Differences in Work Ethic Among Job Seekers Grouped by Employment Status, Age and Gender

Abstract

Work ethic has historically been linked to financial success of individuals and is an multi-dimensional attribute desired by employers. This study examined the level of adherence to work ethic among jobseekers grouped by employment status, age, and gender. This ex-post facto descriptive study used a univariate analysis of variance (p< .05) to evaluate responses to the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory. The study was conducted at the Haywood County JobLink Center in rural Western North Carolina. Jobseekers were grouped by employment status, age, and gender separately and by combinations of these independent variables.

There were no significant differences in work ethic scores among jobseekers when grouped by age and gender separately or a combination of age and gender. There were differences in work ethic scores of jobseekers when grouped by employment status. There were also differences in work ethic scores of jobseekers when grouped by employment status and gender. Additionally, there were significant differences in work ethic scores among jobseekers when grouped by employment status and age. The most significant finding of the study was a higher level of work ethic among some unemployed jobseekers when compared with employed jobseekers. This study was one of the first to examine the work ethic among jobseeker groups.