The Interaction of Job Satisfaction, Job Search, and Job Changes: Evidence from Russia

International Journal of Manpower. 2024.

Smirnykh L. I.

The study investigated the problem of causality between job satisfaction, job search and job change. Data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) for 2016-2021 were used for the analysis. A wide range of job characteristics was taken into account as determinants of job satisfaction. Fixed effects models and models with instrumental variables were used for the calculations. Instrumental variables were tested for models with endogenous regressor. It was found that in Russian companies wage arrears and wage cuts, as well as poor relations with colleagues and/or managers, fear of losing one's job, lead to a decrease in job satisfaction. At the same time, job protection and high wages have a positive impact on job satisfaction. Based on the empirical findings, job satisfaction is a crucial factor in determining the probability of job search in Russia. At the same time, job changes are accurately predicted by employees' propensity to search a job. It is also found that in Russia the impact of job search on the probability of job change varies with job satisfaction. This effect is most noticeable when job satisfaction is low.

Keywords: поиск работы, трудовая мобильность, удовлетворенность работой, job search, job mobility, wage arrears, смена работы, задолженность по заработной плате, Job satisfaction, job changes