Assessment of job satisfaction of employees of University of Ibadan Zoological Garden

Abstract

Job satisfaction is the degree to which individuals like their jobs. Some people enjoy work and find it to be a central part of life. Others hate to work and do so only because they must. There are a variety of factors that can influence a person’s level of job satisfaction, some of which include: nature of work, pay and benefit, relationship with supervisor and co-workers and working environment. Determining factors for motivating, retaining, and enhancing job satisfaction of demographically diverse productive employees is a practical problem facing industries in Nigeria. Research on job satisfaction in Nigeria has focused on the public, banking, manufacturing, and education sectors. Job satisfaction has important implications for work outcomes within an organization. The quality of employee performance in the tourism industry depends primarily on their job satisfaction, as it directly and indirectly affects visitors satisfaction. This study was therefore aimed at assessing the job satisfaction of workers in University of Ibadan Zoological Garden (UI Zoo). The UI Zoo is located on the University Campus. The target population (n=41) for this research were the workers of the zoological garden. Primary and secondary data was used for the study. Data was collected through a well structured questionaire, indepth interview and direct observation. Therefore, a total number of 41copies of the questionaire was administered and the representatives of each unit of the zoo were interviewed. A convenience sampling technique was adopted. The data acquired was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation, regression and thematics). The workers had a high level of job satisfaction with an aggregate mean score of 53 according to the stipulated questionnaire grading system. The zoo workers were least satisfied with their pay and allowance and most satisfied with the nature of their work. The major causes of job dissatisfaction among the workers of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden were inadequate compensation packages, followed by unfavourable management policies and inadequate provision for the proper welfarism of the animals. The workers of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden were satisfied with their jobs despite inadequate pay and allowances. Hence, the management of the University of Ibadan Zoological Garden should consider improving on the level of the zoo workers’ job satisfaction through provision of adequate benefit packages, promotion of favourable management policies and career development, and good supervisor-supervisee relationship.