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Impact of Self-Perceived Employability on Sustainable Career Development in Times of COVID-19: Two Mediating Paths

Author

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  • Wenxia Zhou

    (School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Zhen Pan

    (School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Qiuping Jin

    (School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

  • Yue Feng

    (School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)

Abstract

The outbreak of COVID-19 added further stress to individuals’ work life, and employability may be especially important to help individuals to pursue sustainable career success in such a context. However, previous studies that examined the impact and the mechanisms of employability on sustainable career success are lacking, especially in the context of pandemic threat. Based on conservation of resource theory (COR), the current study aims to explore whether and how employability, as an important resource, reduced work-related emotional exhaustion and increased work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expected that self-perceived employability would reduce emotional exhaustion and increase work engagement. We further expected that coping strategy mediated the effect of self-perceived employability on emotional exhaustion, and career commitment mediated its effect on work engagement. Data were collected via a national survey in China among a sample of 4990 human resource practitioners from October to December 2020 amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The proposed model was tested with structural equation modelling. Results supported the proposed model. Self-perceived employability reduced emotional exhaustion and to a larger extent, increases work engagement. The two mediating effects were of partial mediation. The implications of the results for theory and practice are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenxia Zhou & Zhen Pan & Qiuping Jin & Yue Feng, 2022. "Impact of Self-Perceived Employability on Sustainable Career Development in Times of COVID-19: Two Mediating Paths," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:3753-:d:777081
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mariusz Zieliński, 2022. "The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Labor Markets of the Visegrad Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-20, June.
    2. Jialing Miao & Hao Hu & Fang Wang & Baoguo Xie, 2023. "Positive Affectivity as a Motivator: How Does It Influence Employees’ Sustainable Careers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.

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