Personal characteristics and job satisfaction

Abstract

This study examines the relationships among job satisfaction and selected personal variables. 
\nData were collected from 659 participants in various occupational areas in the Czech Republic 
\n(managers, accountants, in sales/insurance, PR, advertising, health service, teachers, nature con-
\nservation as well as manual workers and different kinds of skilled workers). The study revealed 
\nseveral personal correlates of job satisfaction. Low negative correlation between job satisfaction 
\nand age was found. Next, individuals with higher level of education are more satisfied in job than 
\nworkers with lower level of education. However, this trend does not hold for individuals with the 
\nhighest level of education. Those employees are slightly less satisfied. A decreased level of job 
\nsatisfaction of employees with a higher level of education is explained in terms of certain disap-
\npointment - those people realized that their education did not lead to extrinsic rewards such as 
\nmoney, prestige, authority, and autonomy. 
\nNo significant gender differences in job satisfaction were found. Further, managers and 
\nemployees with supervisory responsibility were more satisfied than workers without supervisory 
\nresponsibility. Workers are slightly more satisfied in large companies with more than 500 employe-
\nes than in smaller organizations. Moreover, the data revealed that employees from international 
\ncorporations are definitely more satisfied than employees from other types of organizations. The 
\nleast satisfied are employees working in public/governmental organizations. Finally, an association 
\nbetween personal traits of the Five-factor personality model, self-efficacy and job satisfaction was 
\ninspected. The data indicated that agreeableness, stability, openness, and self-efficacy were posi-
\ntively related to the total job satisfaction.