Job Satisfaction – An International Comparison of Public and Private Sector Employees

Benefits of job satisfaction include increased productivity, performance, creativity, innovation, motivation, and involvement. The current study examines a global sample from 37 countries to examine the effects of work-life balance, intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, and work relations on job satisfaction for public and private sector employees, using data from the International Social Survey Program. Descriptive results show a significant difference between these workers in the study’s main variables, with several areas higher for public workers. Additionally, regression analyses identify significant differences, mostly favoring public workers. A key contribution of the study is the finding that a one-size-fits-all model of job satisfaction does not work equally across the globe (context matters). However, the findings do lead to specific, actionable items for managers. Future research should examine more detailed country-specific variations and the corresponding causes and explore private/public sector determinants on a global basis.