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A Sustainable Career Perspective of Work Ability: The Importance of Resources across the Lifespan

Author

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  • David Stuer

    (Antwerp Management School, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
    Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Ans De Vos

    (Antwerp Management School, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
    Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

  • Beatrice I.J.M. Van der Heijden

    (Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6525AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    School of Management, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419AT Heerlen, The Netherlands
    Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
    Hubei Business School, Hubei University, Wuhan 368 Youyi Ave., Wuchang District, Wuhan 430062, China)

  • Jos Akkermans

    (School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

In this study, we examine employees’ perceptions of their work ability from a sustainable career perspective. Specifically, we investigate the role of a person’s perceived current fit (i.e., autonomy, strengths use and needs-supply fit), and future fit with their job as resources that affect perceived work ability, defined as the extent to which employees feel capable of continuing their current work over a longer time period. In addition, we test whether meaningfulness of one’s work mediates this relationship, and we address the moderating role of age. Our hypotheses were tested using a sample of 5205 employees working in diverse sectors in Belgium. The results of multi-group Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) provide mixed evidence for our hypotheses. While all four resources were significantly and positively related to perceived meaningfulness, only needs-supply fit was positively related to perceived work ability. Strengths use, on the other hand, was also significantly related to perceived work ability, yet in a negative way. These findings underscore the importance of distinguishing between several types of resources to understand their impact upon perceived work ability. Interestingly, the relationship between future-orientedness of the job and perceived work ability was moderated by age, with the relationship only being significant and positive for middle-aged and senior workers. This suggests an increasingly important role of having a perspective of future fit with one’s job as employees grow older. Contrary to our expectations, meaningfulness did not mediate the relationships between resources and perceived work ability. We discuss these findings and their implications from the perspective of sustainable career development.

Suggested Citation

  • David Stuer & Ans De Vos & Beatrice I.J.M. Van der Heijden & Jos Akkermans, 2019. "A Sustainable Career Perspective of Work Ability: The Importance of Resources across the Lifespan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:14:p:2572-:d:249602
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ahonen, E.Q. & Fujishiro, K. & Cunningham, T. & Flynn, M., 2018. "Work as an inclusive part of population health inequities research and prevention," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(3), pages 306-311.
    2. Frank Martela & Richard M. Ryan & Michael F. Steger, 2018. "Meaningfulness as Satisfaction of Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness, and Beneficence: Comparing the Four Satisfactions and Positive Affect as Predictors of Meaning in Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 1261-1282, June.
    3. Nicole Maestas & Julie Zissimopoulos, 2010. "How Longer Work Lives Ease the Crunch of Population Aging," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(1), pages 139-160, Winter.
    4. Brown, Phillip & Green, Andy & Lauder, Hugh, 2001. "High Skills: Globalization, Competitiveness, and Skill Formation," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199244201.
    5. Carmel Proctor & John Maltby & P. Linley, 2011. "Strengths Use as a Predictor of Well-Being and Health-Related Quality of Life," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 153-169, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jari J. Hakanen & Annina Ropponen & Hans De Witte & Wilmar B. Schaufeli, 2019. "Testing Demands and Resources as Determinants of Vitality among Different Employment Contract Groups. A Study in 30 European Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-17, December.
    2. Frida Marina Fischer & Maria Carmen Martinez & Camila Helaehil Alfredo & João Silvestre Silva-Junior & Jodi Oakman & Teresa Cotrim & Donald Fisher & Stephen Popkin & Gretchen A. Petery & Paul A. Schul, 2021. "Aging and the Future of Decent Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, August.
    3. Fulvio Signore & Enrico Ciavolino & Claudio Giovanni Cortese & Elisa De Carlo & Emanuela Ingusci, 2023. "The Active Role of Job Crafting in Promoting Well-Being and Employability: An Empirical Investigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Melanie Ebener & Hans Martin Hasselhorn, 2019. "Validation of Short Measures of Work Ability for Research and Employee Surveys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-15, September.
    5. Łukasz Baka & Dawid Ścigała & Łukasz Kapica & Andrzej Najmiec & Krzysztof Grala, 2021. "How Is Work Ability Shaped in Groups of Shift and Non-Shift Workers? A Comprehensive Approach to Job Resources and Mediation Role of Emotions at Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Yoshitomo Fukuura & Yukako Shigematsu & Yumi Mizuochi & Tatsuyuki Kakuma, 2022. "Assessing Continued Employability among People with Mental Illnesses: Development of a Scale in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-12, November.
    7. Riccardo Sartori & Francesco Tommasi & Fatima Abu Hamam & Denis Delfitto & Maria Vender & Serena Dal Maso & Sabrina Piccinin & Andrea Ceschi, 2023. "Facilitating Sustainable Career Development in Fragility: A Psycho-Linguistic Intervention for Employability of Individuals with Fragile Literacy Skills," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-10, November.

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