Career adaptability and work engagement: the roles of person–organization fit and job insecurity

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between employees’ career adaptability and work engagement. Specifically, this study investigates the mediating role of person‒organization fit in the relationship between career adaptability and work engagement as well as the moderating role of job insecurity in this mediating effect. Methods We collected data from 248 full-time employees in China and utilized robust statistical techniques to test a moderated mediation model that includes the constructs of career adaptability, person‒organization fit, job insecurity, and work engagement. Results Career adaptability is positively related to employees’ work engagement, and person‒organization fit mediates the relationship between career adaptability and work engagement. Job insecurity moderates the mediating effects of person‒organization fit in this context. The relationship between person‒organization fit and work engagement is stronger at low (vs. high) levels of job insecurity. Conclusion This research contributes to theory by demonstrating that the mediating effect of person‒organization fit and the moderating effect of job insecurity represent additional explanations of the impact of career adaptability on work engagement.

Keywords

• Career adaptability
• Person‒organization fit
• Job insecurity
• Work engagement