Factors determinant of career happiness in Oman banking sector

Abstract

Although, the effect of career happiness on employee performance has been widely explored in various industries, limited studies however, have focussed on the banking sector (Mishra et al., 2020;Singh & Banerji, 2022;Yousuf & Saqib, 2021). This sector is particularly important as it plays a vital role in the economies of every country. About 20 banks are operating in Oman. The banking system in Oman can be divided into two particular sectors. The first sector is the local commercial sector, under which most of the banks in Oman fall. The second sector is the foreign bank sector, where branches of different foreign banks have opened offices in Oman Central Bank of Oman, 2023).Oman's economy heavily relies on oil and gas (Al-Sarihi & Cherni, 2022), with approximately 78% of the revenue coming from this sector (The International Trade Administration, 2023). To reduce Orientation: The concept of happiness at work has attracted increasing interest, and research shows that employee performance does not only depend on skills and abilities. Job satisfaction or career happiness also plays an important role. When employees are satisfied with their careers, they are more likely to be motivated, engaged and committed to their work, which leads to better performance. Research purpose:To investigate the factors that determine the career happiness of employees who are working in the banking sector in Oman, and identify the factors that influence career happiness.Motivation for the study: Career happiness in Oman's banking sector is a crucial and new topic. This study aims to identify causes and improve performance for researchers and practitioners. Research approach/design and method:The study relies on quantitative methods, using a survey gathered electronically from 144 respondents from different banks operating in Oman. The survey has eight major aspects with questions for each aspect. Data are analysed using various statistical methods, including descriptive analysis, independent sample tests, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparisons. Main findings:The study found that line manager and colleagues are the top factors influencing career happiness, followed by working days, work environment, job security and financial incentives. No differences were found on gender or educational level.Practical/managerial implications: This research explores factors influencing career happiness in the banking sector, providing insights for managers to create a positive work environment, boosting employee performance and contributing to the growth and success of the Oman banking sector. Contribution/Value-add:This study provides specific determinant factors affecting the career happiness of employees working in banking sectors in Oman. Both human resources researchers and practitioners could benefit from the research findings.