Employment Quality Unpacked: Dimension and Determinants
Stuart School of Business research presentation by: Industry Assistant Professor of Business Economics Wenchen Wang, Hyeri Choi, and Lonnie Golden
What Makes Work More than Just a Living? Determinants of Employment Quality in Illinois
- Industry Assistant Professor of Business Economics Wenchen Wang
- Hyeri Choi, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Lonnie Golden, Professor of Economics and Labor-Human Resources, Penn State Abington
Abstract:
What working conditions shape workers’ assessment of their employment quality (EQ)? Using a unique primary dataset (N=3,784), we examine the association between a comprehensive range of working conditions and workers’ evaluations of the quality of their own employment situation. We create ten separate dimensions of employment quality, distinguishing broadly between objective and subjective determinants. We estimate the relative contribution of each dimension and its several components. Stepwise regression results indicate that while traditional objective factors like compensation play a role, most variation in perceived employment quality stems from subjective aspects, including job security, meaningfulness of work, and workplace relationships. These findings highlight the importance of non-monetary factors in shaping workers’ employment quality, most of which could be improved via practices and policies.
All Illinois Tech faculty, students, and staff are invited to attend.
The Friday Research Presentations series showcases ongoing academic research projects conducted by Stuart School of Business faculty and students, as well as guest presentations by Illinois Tech colleagues, business professionals, and faculty from other leading business schools.