Status of Job Satisfaction among Academic Staffs of Federal Higher Education Institutions in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Job satisfaction is very essential not only for workers but also for the success of the organization. The
significance of job satisfaction in the achievement of organizational goals in higher education institutions,
especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well in Ethiopia has remained unexplored by advanced statistical
model. The objective of the study was to identify determinant factors that affect the satisfaction
level of academic staffs of the federal universities found in Amhara region. The study considered seven
Amhara state universities. A sample of 620 academic staffs have participated in the study and stratified
sampling techniques were used. The sample was allocated for each university based on their academic
staff number. A cross-sectional survey design through self-administered questionnaire was implemented
to gather information from the respondent. Ordinal logistic model was used to identify major
determinant factors that affect job satisfaction of academic staffs. Academic staff’s age, gender, place
of birth, leadership position, level of responsibility, advancement (promotion), salary, working condition,
nature of work, turnover intention and status of the university were found to be the determining
factors affecting level of job satisfaction. From the total respondents, about 35% were strongly dissatisfied
and dissatisfied on their job while about 38.5% of the respondents did have an intention to leave
their uuniversity searching for other jobs. The overall data suggest that the universities’ management
provide greater financial benefits to create supportive organizational culture. The designing of viable
HR strategies, better infrastructure, flexible working conditions, fostering team unity and better rules
and policies would make academic staffs enjoy the maximum advantage of working for universities.