Job satisfaction of agriculture graduates working under government graduate scheme

Abstract

This study attempted to investigate the job satisfaction of Agricultural Graduate (AG) employed under the Government Graduate Scheme using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. The aims of the study were to identify problems faced by the AG and to suggest appropriate measures to enhance their job satisfaction. Fifty AG were selected from provincial and inter-provincial government institutes to collect the primary data. Respondents were classified into three levels of job satisfaction such as satisfied, indifferent and dissatisfy. Majority of AG (68%) were in the dissatisfaction level while 28% indicated indifferent level and only few (4%) found to be satisfied in their assigned jobs.We used the Frederick Herzberg’s Motivator and Hygiene factors to determine the job satisfaction of AG. A majority of AG fell into dissatisfaction level regarding Hygiene factors of Herzberg’s Motivation theory such as salary (Mean = -0.59, SD = 1.1), payment relate to education level (Mean = -1.14, SD = 0.89), performance appraisal (Mean = -0.77, SD = 0.97), availability of facilities / resources at work place (Mean = 0.14, SD = 0.94), recognition for creative works (Mean = -0.18, SD = 1.01), scope to prove excellence in doing the job (Mean = 0.09, SD = 1.01), opportunitiesfor higher education and trainings (Mean = -0.45, SD =1.06) and promotion opportunities(Mean = - 1.18, SD = 1.14). Nevertheless, respondents were in the satisfaction level on motivators factors such as regards guidance given by superiors to improve job (Mean = 0.23, SD = 0.87), with the flexibility that AGs have been given by their superior (Mean = 0.32, SD = 1.09), distance from office to house (Mean = 0.27, SD = 1.24), opportunities provided to utilize personal skill (Mean = -0.05, SD = 1.05), recognition from superior officers for good work done (Mean = 0.09, SD = 1.02), mutual understanding with the co-workers (Mean = 1.05, SD = 0.65) and flexibility to engage with family responsibilities, children’s education etc. (Mean = 0.27, SD = 1.08). Result of this study showed that salary and awareness about job description had showed positively significant relationship with job satisfaction while experience had showed negatively significant relationship with job satisfaction. Other personal and job related variables were not correlated with job satisfaction.