Career Commitment: Interplay of Core-Self-Evaluation and Reward System among Local Governments Employee in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the joint influence of core self-evaluation (self efficacy, self-esteem, work locus of control and neuroticism) and reward system on carrer commitment of local government employees in Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. A total of 2,040 respondents were selected from 13, 838 employes across the 33 local government areas of Oyo State using stratified random sampling technique. The six instruments used were: General Self-efficacy Scale ( r= 0.80), Self – esteem Scale ( r = 0.76), Work Locus of Control Scale ( r = 0.75), Neutrocism Rating Scale ( r = 0.74), Reward System Rating Scale ( r = 0.69) and Career Commitment Rating Scale ( r= 0.67). Three research questions were answered at 0.05 level of significance using Multiple Regression and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis to test joint effects and relative contributions of the independent variables on the dependent variable. Results findings showed that, self-efficacy, self-esteem, work locus of control, neuroticism and reward system had a significant joint positive correlation with career commitment (r = 0.78). The five variables had significant effects on career commitment (F5/2034 = 627.15). The contributions of the five independent variables to career commitment in order of importance are as follows: reward system (β = 0.674, t=43.87, p<0.05); self-efficacy (β = 0.224, t = 12.3, p< 0.05); locus of control esteem (β = 0.147, t=7.43, p < 0.05); neuroticism (β =0.666, t = 3.96, p <0.05) and self –significantly with career commitment as follows: self-efficacy ( r = 0.41, p< 0.05), self-esteem (r = 0.28, p < 0.05), locus of control ( r= 0.42, p <0.05), neuroticism ( r= 0.32, p <0.05) and reward system ( r = 0.73, p < 0.05). Based on the result findings, part of the recommendations is that, counselling and personnel psychologists should be involved in local government administration so that they can help employees understand and clarify their core self evaluations and reward orientation.

Key words: Career commitment, Core self-evaluation, Reward system, and Local government employees.