Changing Levels of Job Satisfaction among Local Environmental Enforcement Officials in China. (2nd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wen, Bo; Tang, Shui-Yan; Lo, Carlos Wing-Hung
• Is Part Of: China quarterly. Number 241(2020)
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2020-03-02
• Subjects: job satisfaction, -- civil service reform, -- workforce professionalism, -- mission match, -- extrinsic rewards, -- environmental enforcement officials; 工作满意度, -- 公务员体制改革, -- 人员专业化, -- 使命性匹配, -- 物质性报酬, -- 环保执法人员; China -- History -- Periodicals; China -- Periodicals; 951
• DOI: 10.1017/S0305741019000791
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7410

Abstract

Abstract: As a result of multiple waves of administrative reforms in the past three decades, China's civil service has become more professionalized. Yet public employees appear to have become increasingly dissatisfied in recent years. Based on questionnaire surveys and interviews with environmental enforcement officials in a southern city, this paper traces changes in the job satisfaction levels of these officials between 2000 and 2014. It shows that satisfaction with the extrinsic rewards received and overall job satisfaction declined during this period. These downward trends partly reflected the increasingly challenging institutional environments faced by the officials: rising political and societal demands, inadequate fiscal and personnel resources, and limited enforcement authority. In addition, as the officials became more highly educated and professionalized, mission match became a stronger antecedent of job satisfaction. These findings suggest the importance of meeting the motivational needs of a more professionalized workforce.