Antecedents of Employees Work Engagement: A Study on an Ethiopian Universities in Case of Amhara Regional State

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the antecedents influencing employees’ engagement at universities in Amhar Reginal state Ethiopia. The study used descriptive and explanatory research designs. A total of 320 academics staffs were taken from ten Amhara Reginal State public Universities as a sample and 282 valid questionnaires collected. Convenience and snowball sampling were used to select the employees from each University. Also, cross sectional survey method applied to collect data via Likert scale questionnaire. Correlation and multiple regression modeling were used to appraisal association and predict the relationships. Initially, a pilot test was a sampled of 30 instructors to check data scale reliability. The study found that all the independent variables (work environment, leadership, reward, organizational support, work motivation) variables had statistically significant correlation with employees’ engagement. Morover the study founded that all the studied variables were predictors of workers engagement(R2= 0.662); but the predictors that had foremost influence were working environment, leadership and work motivation. Remarkable emphasis and devotion is required particularly on variables such as working environment, leadership and work motivation as they have reveled significantly greater influence on employees engagement. Universities shall focus on creating better work environment, working on instructors motivating factors and more work is required to improve the leadership to boost work engagement.