Salima Hamouche, Christiane Liliane Kammogne and Wassila Merkouche
The COVID-19 crisis caused a high level of job insecurity, layoff and low employment opportunities. It generated a worldwide shock, which might have a long-lasting effect on…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 crisis caused a high level of job insecurity, layoff and low employment opportunities. It generated a worldwide shock, which might have a long-lasting effect on individuals' careers. Changes might occur in terms of individuals’ career choices, objectives, perception of career success and preferences in terms of industries and work arrangements. This study aims to examine crisis-induced career shock among the workforce, which might be translated into changes or doubts related to career choices, objectives and perception of career success, and to analyze individuals' preferences in terms of industries and work arrangements. It focuses mainly on investigating variations among the workforce, based on gender, education level and ethnic origin. These variations are also examined regarding job insecurity, layoff and perceived employability.
Design/methodology/approach
Frequency counts, percentages, mean ranking, independent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for a sample of 317 workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Three research questions were developed and examined, which are: (1) is there a variation in the workforce, based on gender, education level and ethnic origin concerning crisis-induced career shock (specifically changes related to career choices, objectives and career success? (2) Is there a variation among the workforce related to career preference per industry and work arrangement? If yes, is there a difference in the workforce-based gender, education level and ethnic origin? And (3) is there a variation in the workforce, based on gender, education level and ethnic origin concerning job insecurity, layoff and perceived employability?
Findings
The findings revealed that career shock was significantly higher among pre-university respondents (specifically, doubts about career choices and perceived career success). As for career preferences per industry, e-business, media and marketing had significant values for all respondents, with e-business as the top-rated choice except for Emiratis who rated it as their third choice. Education was the choice of both men and women. The choices related to other industries (e.g. Healthcare, information, communication technology, etc.) and work arrangements (telework) varied significantly based on gender, education and ethnic origin. Men seem to worry more than women about losing their job as well as Emiratis compared to expatriates, and university-level respondents compared to pre-university.
Practical implications
This study contributes to highlighting variations related to career shock and career preferences per industry among the workforce based on gender, education level and ethnic origin. This can help organizations in these industries to have a portrait of the situation in the employment market to be able to develop relevant interventions. This research provides insights for managers and HRM practitioners.
Originality/value
This study contributes to expanding research on career and career shocks in a context of a crisis. It responded to authors who called for more research about career shocks, as well as their implication for specific target groups, by examining variations based on gender, education level and ethnic origin.
Details
Keywords
Salima Hamouche, Shaker Bani-Melhem, Ahmet Demir and Christiane Liliane Kammogne
Crises significantly affect the “people” dimension of the triple bottom line, disrupting careers through economic consequences, reducing organizational trust and altering career…
Abstract
Purpose
Crises significantly affect the “people” dimension of the triple bottom line, disrupting careers through economic consequences, reducing organizational trust and altering career choices. Entrepreneurial careers may emerge as an alternative to secure income and career control. Crises can generate career shocks, prompting transitions from traditional employment to entrepreneurship. This study aims to investigate how crises influence career transitions, particularly entrepreneurial intentions, focusing on the effects of layoffs, job insecurity and perceived employability during COVID-19. It explores both direct and indirect impacts of these factors through career shock, contributing to career and entrepreneurship research.
Design/methodology/approach
Cross-sectional data were collected in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using snowball sampling during the COVID-19 health crisis. The final sample consisted of 211 working individuals. An online questionnaire was distributed to participants. The study hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis conducted with SmartPLS 3.0.
Findings
The obtained results showed that the layoff of others, job insecurity and low perceived employability are significantly associated with career shock. And that career shock mediates the relationship between these variables and entrepreneurial intention in times of crisis, except for job insecurity.
Practical implications
This research provides insights for employees, managers, organizations and policymakers. It is necessary to carefully address employee expectations and experiences to identify career decisions resulting from career shocks and determine the needed interventions and support.
Originality/value
Very few studies examined the relationship between career shock and entrepreneurial intention. This cannot help human resources management practitioners understand how career shock can trigger the transition from paid employment to an entrepreneurial career. This study broadens the scope of research on human resource management, entrepreneurship and career by examining the direct effects of layoff, job insecurity and perceived employability on career shock as well as on entrepreneurial intention, in addition to their direct effects on the latter through career shock during a crisis.