Job satisfaction in the armed forces: Differences among ranks

Abstract

Human resource management has attracted significant attention among researchers of public management. It is increasingly accepted that committed and satisfied employees are strategic resources in any organization. The idiosyncrasies of the armed forces and the professionalization processes they have undergone necessitate a study of the attitudes of military personnel towards work in the sector. This paper analyses the determinants of job satisfaction in the military. Three factors (“Work itself”, “Economic aspects” and “Personal relationships”) are identified based on data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Both the composition and the impact of these factors on job satisfaction vary according to the hierarchical rank of a worker. The findings confirm the importance of differentiated human resources policies that take into account the hierarchical diversity of the military. Our results provide new evidence and valuable practical information for human resource management in the armed forces. We provide policymakers and managers of the military sector with recommendations that allow them to reinforce the ability of the armed forces to attract, retain and motivate talent.