Perceived employability and psychological functioning framed by gain and loss cycles

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the gain and loss cycle ideas from the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory with regard to perceived employability and psychological functioning among employed workers and unemployed job seekers, respectively.

Design/methodology/approach

More specifically, the authors argue that perceived employability may trigger a gain cycle toward well-being among employed workers (H1), while ill-being may trigger a loss cycle toward reduced (perceived) employability among unemployed job seekers (H2). The authors test these ideas with cross-lagged analysis.

Findings

Results confirm the hypotheses: perceived employability at Time 1 positively affects well-being at Time 2 among employed workers and ill-being at Time 1 negatively impacts perceived employability at Time 2 among unemployed job seekers.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should study the gain and loss cycles with more than two waves of data as this allows for a more adequate test of these ideas.

Practical implications

As for practitioners, the results suggest that investing in the worker’s perceived employability by offering training, career counseling, and networking opportunities, pays off as it promotes the employee’s psychological functioning. With regard to unemployed job seekers the authors advise investing in psychological counseling: the unemployed job seeker will be more able to invest in a job search, and hence perceive employability if helped in coping with job loss.

Originality/value

This study offers a new perspective on the relationship between perceived employability and psychological functioning by involving the principles of COR theory, in particular the gain and loss cycles.

Citation

Vanhercke, D., Kirves, K., De Cuyper, N., Verbruggen, M., Forrier, A. and De Witte, H. (2015), "Perceived employability and psychological functioning framed by gain and loss cycles", Career Development International, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 179-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-12-2014-0160