HOW MEANINGFUL WORK REDUCES TURNOVER INTENTION THROUGH WORK ENGAGEMENT AMONG GENERATION Z
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53806/ijcss.v7i2.1353Keywords:
Generation Z, Meaningful Work, Turnover Intention, Work Engagement.Abstract
The increasing phenomenon of turnover intention among Generation Z in Indonesia poses a challenge for organizations in retaining young and potential employees. This generation is known to be adaptive and critical, and to place work meaningfulness as an important factor in job satisfaction and organizational loyalty. This study aims to analyze the effect of meaningful work on turnover intention, with work engagement as a mediating variable among Generation Z employees in Indonesia. This research employed a quantitative explanatory approach using a survey method. The sample consisted of 387 respondents, determined based on the Krejcie and Morgan table through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Meaningful Work Scale adapted from Steger, Dik, and Duffy (2012), the Work Engagement Scale (UWES) from Schaufeli and Bakker (2004), and the Turnover Intention Scale from Bothma and Roodt (2013). Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) with the assistance of SmartPLS 4.0. The results indicate that meaningful work has a negative and significant effect on turnover intention (? = -0.19; p = 0.022) and a positive and significant effect on work engagement (? = 0.77; p = 0.000). Furthermore, work engagement has a negative and significant effect on turnover intention (? = -0.249; p = 0.002) and mediates the relationship between meaningful work and turnover intention (? = -0.192; p = 0.002). These findings highlight the importance of creating a meaningful work environment to enhance engagement and reduce turnover intention among Generation Z employees.
References
[1] A. Adelia, I. Daud, A. Azazi, M. C. I. Kalis, and M. I. Hendri, “Exploring Turnover Intentions in Indonesian Generation Z: Emotional Exhaustion, Employee Engagement, and Job Satisfaction,” J. Manag. Sci., vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 250–256, 2024, [Online]. Available: www.exsys.iocspublisher.org/index.php/JMAS
[2] O. E. A. Muin and C. H. Pangaribuan, “Influence of Trust Climate on Turnover Intention Mediated by Work Engagement on Workers in Indonesia,” Indones. Interdiscip. J. Sharia Econ., vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 8986–8999, 2025.
[3] A. Artopo and S. Wahyuni, “Internal Turnover Intention in Indonesian Government Organization,” J. Open Innov. Technol. Mark. Complex., vol. 10, no. 4, p. 100433, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100433.
[4] J. L. Rodríguez-Sáez, L. J. Martín-Antón, A. Salgado-Ruiz, and M. Á. Carbonero-Martín, “Emerging Adulthood, Socioemotional Variables and Mental Health in Spanish University Students,” BMC Psychol., vol. 13, no. 1, 2025, doi: 10.1186/s40359-025-02804-y.
[5] F. Awalia and Zulkarnaini, “Memahami Pola Perilaku Generasi Z di Era Digital,” J. Teknol. dan Sains Mod., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 15–25, 2025, [Online]. Available: https://journal.scitechgrup.com/index.php/jtsm/article/view/251
[6] M. Q. A’yun, “Memahami Generasi Z: Tantangan, Perilaku, dan Peluang,” Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Gorontalo. [Online]. Available: https://gorontalokab.bps.go.id/id/news/2025/02/05/30/memahami-generasi-z--tantangan--perilaku--dan-peluang.html
[7] D. S. Puspita, A. L. Haziroh, M. Mahmud, and M. F. Wardhani, “Upaya Penurunan Turnover Intention Melalui Perceived Organizational Support, Career Development, Dan Work Life Balance Pada Karyawan Generasi Z Bank Bumn Di Kota Semarang,” Master J. Manaj. dan Bisnis Terap., vol. 4, no. 1, p. 66, 2024, doi: 10.30595/jmbt.v4i1.23846.
[8] M. A. Rangga and N. F. Hermiati, “The Effect of Work Stress and Job Insecurity On Turnover Intention With Job Satisfaction As An Intervening Variable On Generation Z Employees In Bekasi Regency,” Manag. Stud. Entrep. J., vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 2990–3000, 2023, [Online]. Available: http://journal.yrpipku.com/index.php/msej
[9] F. Wibowo, E. Susilowati, and A. A. Setiyawan, “Fenomena Turnover Intention pada Generasi Z dalam Revolusi Industri 5.0,” J. Manag. Digit. Bus., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 313–325, 2024, doi: 10.53088/jmdb.v4i2.1120.
[10] S. N. S. Zahari and F. Puteh, “Gen Z Workforce and Job-Hopping Intention: A Study among University Students in Malaysia,” Int. J. Acad. Res. Bus. Soc. Sci., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 902–927, 2023, doi: 10.6007/ijarbss/v13-i1/15540.
[11] M. L. Heath, E. N. Williams, and W. Luse, “Breaches and Buffers: Can Meaningful Work Impact Turnover during COVID-19 Pandemic?,” Rev. Manag. Sci., vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 83–104, 2024, doi: 10.1007/s11846-022-00612-x.
[12] A. Kuancintami and A. Heryjanto, “Increase Employee Retention: Impact Work-Life Balance, Meaningful Work, and Job Satisfaction Towards Turnover Intention,” J. Indones. Sos. Sains, vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 1099–1113, 2023, doi: 10.59141/jiss.v4i11.920.
[13] K. A. Meese et al., “Don’t Go: Examining the Relationships Between Meaning, Work Environment and Turnover Intention Across the Entire Healthcare Team,” J. Multidiscip. Healthc., vol. 17, no. January, pp. 353–366, 2024, doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S437816.
[14] Deloitte, “2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey: Growth and the Pursuit of Money, Meaning, and Well-Being,” 2025.
[15] A. Cashin, “Beyond Work, Scroll, and Repeat: Cultivating Meaning and Purpose in Gen Z,” MCC Project Harvard School. [Online]. Available: https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/whats-new/gen-z-meaning-purpose
[16] S. Wu, Q. Xu, H. Tian, R. Li, and X. Wu, “The Relationship between Social Support and Work Engagement of Rural Teachers: a Moderated Mediation Model,” Front. Psychol., vol. 15, pp. 1–10, 2024, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1479097.
[17] F. Tommasi, A. Ceschi, and R. Sartori, “Viewing Meaningful Work Through the Lens of Time,” Front. Psychol., vol. 11, pp. 1–12, 2020, doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.585274.
[18] S. L. Albrecht, C. R. Green, and A. Marty, “Meaningful Work, Job Resources, and Employee Engagement,” Sustainability, vol. 13, 2021, doi: 10.3390/su13074045.
[19] Muchtadin, “Hubungan antara Work Engagement dengan Turnover Intention pada Pekerja Generasi Milenial di Jabodetabek,” J. Psikol. Teor. dan Terap., vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 377–391, 2022, doi: 10.26740/jptt.v13n3.p377-391.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Zahra Arridhani Siregar, Rahmi Lubis, Patisina

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



