Is ability-job fit important for work engagement? Evidence from the Irish civil service

ABSTRACT

Few studies of work engagement have been undertaken within a civil service context. This study draws on data from an employee survey of the Irish civil service to explore the relationship between perceptions of ability-job fit and engagement and whether this relationship is mediated by meaningful work. It also examines whether the relationship between perceived ability-job fit and meaningful work is moderated by prosocial impact. The hypotheses for mediation are supported, but the findings for moderation suggest a tension between the ideals of doing public service work and those associated with making a difference to the lives of others.

KEYWORDS:

• Ability-job fit
• closed HR system
• meaningful work
• prosocial impact
• work engagement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kathy Monks

Kathy Monks is Emeritus Professor of HRM at DCU Business School. Her research interests include HR systems, work engagement and the future of work. Her work has been published in journals such as Human Resource Management Journal, Human Resource Management, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, Work Employment and Society and New Technology Work and Employment.

Edel Conway

Edel Conway is Full Professor of HRM and Organisational Psychology at DCU Business School. Her research interests include employee engagement, well-being, organizational change, new technology and the future of work. Her work has been published in journals such as Human Resource Management Journal, Human Resource Management and The International Journal of Human Resource Management. She is a member of several editorial boards and is currently an Associate Editor of Human Resource Management Journal.

Yseult Freeney

Yseult Freeney is a Professor of Organisational Psychology in Dublin City University Business School. Her research centres on well-being at work, particularly work engagement and the work-life interface. In line with her expertise in the area, Yseult serves on the Editorial Board of Human Resource Management Journal. Yseult Freeney’s publications to date include Human Relations, Human Resource Management Journal, and International Journal of Nursing Studies. She also co-edited the Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Management: Organisational Behaviour.

Natasha McDowell

Natasha McDowell is a PhD scholar at Dublin City University, Ireland. Her research interests include employee experiences of career transitions, organizational change, social networks and re-socialization. Prior to pursuing her PhD studies, Natasha worked as a research assistant at Dublin City University and as a faculty manager at the Irish Management Institute.