Level of Job Satisfaction Amongst Employees of a South African University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.403Keywords:
Job Satisfaction, Higher Education, South Africa, Employee Engagement, University StaffAbstract
Job satisfaction is a critical determinant of employee performance, retention, and overall institutional effectiveness within higher education. This study examines the level of job satisfaction amongst employees at a South African university, with the aim of identifying key factors influencing satisfaction across academic and non-academic staff. A quantitative research methodology was employed, to gain a comprehensive understanding of employee perceptions. A convenient sample size of (114) was utilised in the execution of this study. The sample was drawn from both administrative and academic staff of the institution. Data were collected with the aid of a job satisfaction questionnaire. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics specifically the chi-square method of analysis were used to analyse data. The reliability of the questionnaire was determined by the Cronbach Alpha. Results of the study shows that employees are generally committed to work for the university under study. The study highlights the importance of effective management communication, fair reward systems, and professional development initiatives in enhancing satisfaction levels. Recommendations are provided for university leadership to foster a more supportive and motivating work environment.
References
Agarwal, R., & Ferratt, T. W. (2001). Crafting an HR strategy to meet the need for IT workers. Communications of the ACM, 44(7), 58-64.
Agho, A. O., Mueller, C. W., & Price, J. L. (1993). Determinants of employee job satisfaction: An empirical test of a causal model. Human relations, 46(8), 1007-1027.
Asemota, O. O & Asemota, GNO (2025). Supervisors’ Support and Implications on Academic Employee Commitment in Public Universities in Kenya. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 9(9), 5-22.
Asemota, O. O., Were, S., & Nyang’au, S. P. (2022). Organizational Reward as a Predictor of Academic Employee Commitment in Selected Public Universities in Kenya. Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(11), 96-117.
Avey, J. B., Reichard, R. J., Luthans, F., & Mhatre, K. H. (2011). Meta‐analysis of the impact of positive psychological capital on employee attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Human resource development quarterly, 22(2), 127-152.
Buitendach, J. H., & De Witte, H. (2005). Job insecurity, extrinsic and intrinsic job satisfaction and affective organisational commitment of maintenance workers in a parastatal. South African Journal of Business Management, 36(2), 27-37. Erasmus, B. J., Grobler, A., & Van Niekerk, M. (2015). Employee retention in a higher education institution: An organisational development perspective. Progressio, 37(2), 33-63.
Kebede, A. M., & Demeke, G. W. (2017). The influence of leadership styles on employees’ job satisfaction in Ethiopian public universities. Contemporary Management Research, 13(3).
Khumalo, N. (2022). Factors That Affect the Morale of Employees in the Institution of Higher Learning in South Africa. International Journal of Higher Education, 11(3), 58-66.
Lumley, E. J., Coetzee, M., Tladinyane, R., & Ferreira, N. (2011). Exploring the job satisfaction and organisational commitment of employees in the information technology environment. Southern African business review, 15(1).
Manogharan, M. W., Thivaharan, T., & Rahman, R. A. (2018). Academic Staff Retention in Private Higher Education Institute--Case Study of Private Colleges in Kuala Lumpur. International Journal of Higher Education, 7(3), 52-78.
Mather, M. F., & Bam, N. E. (2025). Factors influencing academic staff satisfaction and retention in higher education: a literature review. European Journal of Education, 60(1), e70025.
Mefi, N. P., & Asoba, S. N. (2025). Organisational Support for Job Satisfaction of Academics in A Virtual Contexts at a Selected Institution of Higher Learning in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Journal of Ecohumanism, 4(4), 1093-1099.
Mukwawaya, O. Z. (2025). The Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment Amongst Employees of a South African University. International Journal of Applied Research in Business and Management, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.337.
Robbins, S. B., Oh, I. S., Le, H., & Button, C. (2009). Intervention effects on college performance and retention as mediated by motivational, emotional, and social control factors: integrated meta-analytic path analyses. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(5), 1163.
Szromek, A. R., & Wolniak, R. (2020). Job satisfaction and problems among academic staff in higher education. Sustainability, 12(12), 4865.
Yee, R. W., Yeung, A. C., & Cheng, T. E. (2010). An empirical study of employee loyalty, service quality and firm performance in the service industry. International Journal of Production Economics, 124(1), 109-120.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Owen Zivanai Mukwawaya, Prof Emmanuel Mutambara (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
