Occupational differences in the age-job satisfaction relationship of Japanese employees

ニホン　ノ　ロウドウシャ　ニオケル　ネンレイ　ショクム　マンゾク　カンケイ　ノ　ショクシュ　サ

タカハラ, リュウジ

Takahara, Ryuji

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ タイジン シャカイ シンリガク ケンキュウシツ

職務満足

労働者

職種

age

job satisfaction

employee

occupation

We examined the occupational differences in age-job satisfaction relationships among Japanese employees, by conducting hierarchical polynomial regression analyses with five job satisfaction variables across four occupation categories. Results indicated significant differences in the type of satisfactions among occupations. For professional and production employees, the overall results showed U-shaped curves where the younger and older employees reported higher job satisfactions. Also, various types of age-job satisfaction relationships (e.g. negative linear, U-shaped, S-shaped, or no significant relationships) were found for clerical and sales employees depending on their types of job satisfactions. Detailed analysis indicated that the relationship between age and the satisfaction with motivational factors (overall job satisfaction and the satisfaction with work itself) were found to be negative before 40’ s and become positive after 40’s. Also, similar turning point was observed in the relationship between age and the satisfaction with hygiene factors (satisfactions with extrinsic rewards, human relationships, and their bosses) in the 50-60’s. Because of the inattention to occupational specificity, previous age-job satisfaction studies might have obscured the true relationships hidden between age and job satisfaction.