Exposing the Crucial Drivers of Employee Engagement in Makassar City: Are They the Key to Unlocking Peak Performance?

Employee engagement has long been recognized as a critical phenomenon that underpins the functioning and performance of companies. This study delves into the factors influencing employee engagement within one of the creative industries in Makassar City. The research investigates the impact of vigor, dedication, and absorption on employee engagement and their subsequent influence on employee performance. Empirical validation of the model was conducted using a partial modeling approach with the SPSS v25 application, gathering survey data from employees with experience in the creative industry in Makassar. The findings reveal that the indicators of vigor, dedication, and absorption significantly and positively enhance employee engagement, leading to improved performance within this sector. Notably, the relationship between employee engagement and performance showed a strong coefficient of determination of 0.850, indicating that 85% of the variance in vigor, dedication, and absorption—components of employee engagement—can explain their impact on performance in the creative industry in Makassar. This research proposes several implications, emphasizing the importance of vigor in maintaining employees’ enthusiasm to prevent any decline in work quality. It also highlights the need to enhance dedication in response to job challenges to boost employee performance. Furthermore, the study suggests maintaining absorption to ensure employees’ focus and interest, thereby enhancing overall work effectiveness and performance.