Determinants of Job Satisfaction: A Review of Empirical Literature

The commonly held opinion is that “a satisfied worker is a productive worker†. There is a reciprocal relationship between satisfaction and performance; this means that satisfaction causes performance and performance causes satisfaction. When an employee is satisfied with their job they commit their energies and effort towards achievement of organizational goals sometimes at the expense of their personal goals. The purpose of this study is to find out the factors that influence the level of job satisfaction among the workforce. Increased job satisfaction will motivate employees to achieve the organizational goals. A satisfied work force will create a pleasant atmosphere within the organization to perform well (Pushpakumari, 2008). Low job satisfaction could cause employees to move away from their jobs, search for new jobs, or change their existing jobs and careers. The degree of organizational loyalty of employee is higher when employee job satisfaction increased (Javed, Balouch & Hassan, 2014). It is therefore, very critical for organizations to approach their performance improvement goal from the employee job satisfaction point. For this to happen effectively, it is necessary for the managers to understand the factors that determine job satisfaction among employees. Studies have shown that job satisfaction is influenced by a variety of factors- both internal and external to the organization. This study sought to review literature on the factors that determine or influence job satisfaction. From the study it was found that job satisfaction is an outcome of different factors like pay, the work itself, job security, supervision, leadership styles, relationships with co-workers and opportunities for promotions. The findings of this study will help managers at all levels to play a key role in improving the levels of job satisfaction among employees within their jurisdictions. This in turn will lead to higher performance both at the individual, team and organizational levels.