A Study on Factors Affecting Employee Job Satisfaction Among Management Service Officers in the Ministry of Finance, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Job satisfaction among public sector employees within Sri Lanka is becoming an area of major concern as highlighted by recent research studies and media reports. A shortage of professional staff and a lack of resources have exacerbated the current problem impeding on effective and efficient service delivery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting job satisfaction among Management Service Officers in the Ministry of Finance. The research design follows a quantitative research method and a deductive approach with a positivist paradigmatic philosophy. The population targeted consists of Management Service Officers in the Ministry of Finance, with total population sampling used for data collection. All permanent Management Service Officers in the Ministry with a salary level of MN2 made up the sample group. A structured, self-filled questionnaire using a Likert Scale was used to gather data. Two major parts were included in the questionnaire: first – the demographic information of the respondents, and second – the statements relating to the perception of job satisfaction. Statistical analysis, including correlation and regression techniques, was applied to test the study’s hypothesis and examine the relationship between organizational factors and job satisfaction. The findings demonstrated a strong positive relationship between job satisfaction and factors such as pay, promotion, co workers, supervision, and the job itself. The analysis showed that each of these factors significantly predicted job satisfaction confirming the study’s hypothesis. The results underscored the importance of these factors in enhancing job satisfaction and provided empirical support for the study’s significance in improving employee satisfaction and performance in the public sector and highlighted critical organizational areas that management should address to support job satisfaction among Management Service Officers, contributing valuable insights for enhancing public sector management practices.