Job Satisfaction among Public and Private Employees

With the increasing demand for high-skilled workers and the importance of strategic human resource management (SHRM), researchers have emphasized the congruence of education-job fit and skill-job fit through training. This study investigates the impact of education-job fit and skill-job fit on job satisfaction. In this research, work-life balance (WLB) policies (i.e., family friendly policies, supports for individual growth, etc.) are regarded as critical for an individual’s satisfaction at home and for improving organizational efficiency. Therefore, this study examines the moderating effect of WLB policies on the relationship between person-job fit (i.e., education-job fit, skill-job fit) and job satisfaction. Many studies have been conducted regarding the impact of education-job fit and skill-job fit on job satisfaction; however, most of them viewed education-job fit and skill-job fit as one combined concept. Given that person-job fit is subdivided into two levels, education-job fit and skill-job fit, this study focuses on the different impacts of each type of fit on outcomes. Moreover, we also examined how WLB policies have a moderating influence on job satisfaction. In order to verify a set of hypotheses, a correlation analysis, t-test, and a hierarchical multiple regression analysis were carried out. Employing the Korea Labor and Income Panel Study, we conducted an impact analysis and a comparative analysis of the public and private sectors. Based on the discussion of the findings, the theoretical and practical implications, the limitations of the study, and the recommendations for future research are provided in the final section.