Work engagement mediation of job security, job embeddedness, and turnover intention within the South African mining sector

Abstract

The study investigated the role of work engagement in the relationships between job security, job embeddedness, and turnover intention within the South African mining sector. Mining employees who work on the surface (n = 203; males = 53%; females = 45%; White = 45%; Black = 38%; 52% with more than two years of service) completed measures of job security, job embeddedness, work engagement and turnover intention. The results of the structural equation modelling analysis revealed that work engagement played a mediating role in the relationship between job security, job embeddedness and turnover intention. Specifically, employees who reported higher levels of work engagement were more likely to feel secure in their jobs, become more embedded in their work and were less likely to leave. Post-hoc analysis demonstrated that gender and ethnicity did not explain statistically significant variance in the latent variables. These findings suggest that implementing human resource practices that promote work engagement and job embeddedness is crucial for enhancing job security and increasing employee retention within the organisation.

Keywords:

• job security
• job embeddedness
• work engagement
• turnover intention
• mining