Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate
the impact of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement in the
contemporary economy. Work itself and work environments are currently
undergoing fundamental changes. As such, the focus of engagement research is
shifting to an interest in personal resources and the psychological capital of
knowledge workers.
Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes a theoretical
model based on a modern interpretation of the Conservation of Resources Theory
concerning the relationship between personal resources (self-efficacy,
organization-based self-esteem, and satisfaction with life) in relation to the three
dimensions of job engagement (physical, emotional, and cognitive). The proposed
model is tested with structural equation modelling (LISREL).
Findings: Results from the analysis of data collected
from Finnish university graduates (N = 103) show that the three dimensions of
job engagement are strongly influenced by organization-based self-esteem and
satisfaction with life but, surprisingly, not by self-efficacy.
Practical implications: Through understanding the impact
of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement, organizations can
enhance their human relations management practices and develop better support
mechanisms for their knowledge workers.
Originality/value: This paper provides empirical evidence for the
influence of personal resources on knowledge workers’ job engagement. There is
a lack of empirical studies on knowledge workers’ job engagement in the
contemporary economy. The changing nature of the way work is being carried out
in the contemporary economy raises the importance of personal resources as a
key resource for knowledge workers’ job engagement.
Keywords: Knowledge worker, personal resources, job
engagement.
Paper type: Research paper.