The effect of career growth on work engagement among Sarawak civil servants

Abstract

Although career growth is widely recognised as an important driver of employee engagement, limited research has examined how its distinct dimensions influence engagement, particularly within the public service sector. This descriptive-correlational study examines the influence of career growth on work engagement among Sarawak civil servants. A total of 63 employees from local authority organisations in Sarawak were selected using a non-probability sampling method. The survey instrument was adapted from the Career Growth Scale and Work Engagement Scale. The scales' reliability was confirmed, with Cronbach's alphas exceeding 0.7 for all variables. The results of a Pearson correlation analysis indicated a significant and positive relationship between career growth dimensions and work engagement. Notably, the regression analysis showed that professional ability development has the greatest influence on work engagement, surpassing that of career goal progress. These findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing work engagement among Sarawak civil servants, offering a pathway to develop a more comprehensive training plan for public-sector employees. By examining work engagement within the administrative and cultural context of Sarawak, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of how engagement drivers, particularly career growth opportunities, operate in Malaysian public institutions and adds to the broader literature on employee engagement in government settings.