Comparing Public and Private Employees' Job Satisfaction and Turnover

Abstract

This study compares the job satisfaction and turnover intentions of private- and public-sector employees in Taiwan. Questionnaires were used to collect data from employees of various private enterprises and public organizations. The results show that the job satisfaction and turnover intentions of public employees are different from those of private employees'. First, public employees in Taiwan have lower extrinsic job satisfaction and lower turnover intentions compared to their counterparts in the private sector. Second, the negative relationship between extrinsic job satisfaction and turnover intention is weaker in public than in private employees. To enhance employee motivation, public-sector managers in Taiwan should improve their employees' extrinsic job satisfaction and help unsatisfied employees transfer to jobs they find more satisfying. In addition, they may wish to examine if turnover rate at their organizations is too low to support healthy workforce mobility.