One Size Does not Fit All: Exploring Gendered Insights into Job Satisfaction and Employee Retention in HEI in India

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants of job satisfaction and their impact on employee retention within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with job satisfaction serving as a mediating variable and gender as a moderating factor. Employing a robust hybrid Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach, the study analyzes the influence of five key antecedents—compensation, work environment, job security, career advancement, and recognition—on job satisfaction and, in turn, on retention. The results reveal that all five factors significantly and positively contribute to job satisfaction, with job security and career advancement emerging as the most influential. Job satisfaction was found to significantly enhance employee retention, underscoring its pivotal role in sustaining a committed academic workforce. The multi-group analysis (MGA) identified gender-based differences, with male employees prioritizing compensation and job security, while female employees showed a stronger preference for a supportive work environment. However, both genders equally valued career advancement and recognition. These findings offer valuable insights for HEI administrators and policymakers, suggesting the need for holistic, inclusive, and demographically sensitive HR strategies that foster long-term commitment and institutional effectiveness.

Keywords: Job Satisfaction, Employee Retention, Higher Education Institutions, Gender, Structural Equation Modelling, Human Resource Policies

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