Workplace Motivation And Job Satisfaction: A Comparative Study Of Public And Private Sector Employees
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/jaes.v21i2.26Keywords:
Workplace motivation, Job satisfaction, Public sector, Private sector, Organizational behavior, Employee engagement.Abstract
Workplace motivation and job satisfaction are pivotal in shaping employee performance and organizational effectiveness. The study presents a comparative analysis between public and private sector employees to explore sectoral differences in motivational drivers, job satisfaction, and organizational support. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrated quantitative data from 400 structured questionnaires (200 per sector) and qualitative insights from 20 in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, regression analysis, and thematic coding were employed to ensure analytical rigor. The results indicate that private sector employees reported significantly higher levels of intrinsic motivation (M = 4.2), extrinsic motivation (M = 4.5), and job satisfaction (M = 4.0), compared to their public sector counterparts. Regression models identified extrinsic motivation and career growth as the strongest predictors of job satisfaction, particularly in the private sector. Thematic analysis revealed that public sector employees prioritize job stability and work-life balance, whereas private sector employees emphasize leadership support, performance recognition, and advancement opportunities. The study concludes that sectoral culture, incentive structures, and leadership styles profoundly shape employee motivation and satisfaction. It recommends sector-specific HR reforms—public institutions should enhance recognition and career development mechanisms, while private organizations must address stress and security concerns. Future research should explore longitudinal dynamics and include rural or industry-specific populations for broader generalizability.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sunita Mehta, Surya Kant Sharma, Dr. Anviti Rawat, Dr. Sheetal Bhasin Kapoor, Nazia Qureshi, Prof Raj Kumar Singh (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
