Job risk and job-seeking in the service industry in Nepal: The role of self-efficacy

Abstract

Purpose: The study's main goal was to examine self-efficacy's role in the relationship between employment risk and job-search behavior among youth in Nepal, focusing on the service sector.

Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a quantitative methodology that relied on survey information gathered from 234 undergraduate and graduate students who completed their studies in 2023 and were looking for employment in the service sector in Nepal. The research was based on empirical evidence supporting the self-determination theory and its practical implications on the impact of self-efficacy on motivation and job-searching behavior. Attitudinal factors encompass affective and summative beliefs, thoughts, and evaluations on unemployment, employment, and job search.

Findings: The study exposed a meaningful association between employment risk and job-searching behavior (β = 0.716, CR = 8.646, p 0.01), explaining approximately 51.0 % of the variance. About 86.0 % of the variation in young Nepalese people's job-seeking behavior can be attributed to the interaction between employment risk and self-efficacy. This finding indicates that self-efficacy is responsible for approximately 35.0 % of the variance in job-seeker behavior.  

Research implications: Comprehending the motivational factors that drive individuals' endeavors in seeking employment necessitates a cognizance of the impact of self-efficacy in connecting the association between job-seeking behavior and job-related risk. Individuals, organizations, and policymakers can promote motivation, resilience, and successful job search outcomes in the face of employment risk by considering and addressing self-efficacy beliefs.