V3I5P61

Unveiling the Psychological Dynamics of Workforce Commitment: An Empirical Examination of Attitudinal Drivers and Organisational Outcomes in Apparel Manufacturing

Kavitha P N^1*, Dr. Pankajakshi R²

Abstract

The contemporary apparel manufacturing sector faces unprecedented challenges in sustaining workforce commitment amidst evolving labour market dynamics and intensified global competition. This empirical investigation examines the interrelationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction within a mid-sized garment export facility in India’s Bengaluru Rural industrial corridor. Drawing upon the Job Demands-Resources model and Social Exchange Theory, the study employed a cross-sectional survey design with stratified random sampling (N=100) comprising permanent and contract production workers. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9) and Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ short form) served as primary measurement instruments. Findings revealed moderate engagement levels (M=3.75/6) with pronounced disparities between permanent (M=38.2) and contract workers (M=32.5, p<0.001). Perceived organisational support emerged as the strongest engagement predictor (β=0.41), while pay satisfaction demonstrated negligible predictive power (β=0.09). The U-shaped satisfaction-tenure trajectory identified the 2-5 year cohort as critically vulnerable. These findings carry substantial implications for human resource strategy in labour-intensive manufacturing contexts.

Keywords:

Employee engagement, job satisfaction, apparel manufacturing, perceived organisational support, contract labour, job demands-resources model