What Makes Us Act? Factors Affecting Voluntary Job Mobility

Abstract

Voluntary job mobility is an important question for organisations. Companies are investing a great amount of money, time and effort in recruiting and the training of employees. This study will illustrate factors affecting voluntary job mobility. Motivational factors, situational factors related to the work and family situation and individual factors related to an employee’s background are discussed as aspects influencing voluntary job mobility. A questionnaire, using closed-ended questions was sent to employees that had taken action in changing job. Factors affecting voluntary job mobility are illustrated by a comparison between employees who actually changed jobs and employees that did not change jobs. Based on the selfdetermination theory as well a theoretical model based on previous research it was found that motivational factors are affected by both internal and external influences, even though internal influences are affecting motivation to a higher degree. The result shows that working tasks related to an inner interest and pleasure is the main factor that first and foremost motivates employees to voluntarily change jobs. The situational factors that are found to affect voluntary job mobility mostly are work as a whole, psychological working conditions and social support. In this study, differences within individual factors such as age, gender and education were found not to affect voluntary job mobility. The result and the provided indications of factors affecting voluntary job mobility will hopefully be of importance for employers and HR policymakers that strategically work with preventing voluntary turnover.