Title: Job satisfaction and perceived benefits of educational opportunities in recessional environments among professionals

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3099, USA

Abstract: An empirical analysis, via a focused, stratified approach to measure personal reactions to potential employment instability and educational incentives was conducted in a relatively large company, representative of the financial and marketing service industries, located in the metropolitan section of Cleveland, OH. This city was chosen as being representative of rustbelt areas most hit by the global recession. Via multiple linear regression, Chi-square, and factor analysis, it was found that these professionals increasingly view taking advantage of educational and/or training opportunities as the primary strategic leverage to become more competitive in the workplace and, hence, more desirable to their present employers. Many professionals view educational opportunities in their current field of expertise as preferred alternatives to pay-cuts, furlough, and/or changing careers.

Keywords: business strategies; credit crunch; economic recessions; professional intellect; job satisfaction; perceived benefits; educational opportunities; recessional environments; professionals; personal reactions; employment instability; educational incentives; financial services; marketing; service industries; Cleveland; Ohio; USA; United States; rustbelt areas; global recessions; multiple linear regression; chi-square; factor analysis; training opportunities; strategic leverage; competitiveness; workplaces; employee desirability; expertise; pay cuts; furlough; career changes; temporary layoffs; education management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIE.2011.042886

International Journal of Management in Education, 2011 Vol.5 No.4, pp.317 - 344

Published online: 12 Feb 2015 *

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