Critical Perspectives on Digital Competency and Lazy Employment Motivation: Test and Analysis of a Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

Although previous studies have revealed the positive effects of digital competency on employment-related motivation, there is a lack of in-depth exploration of the mechanisms influencing the motivation for lazy employment. The purpose of this study was not only to examine the mediating role of career self-efficacy in the relationship between digital competency and irrational slow-employment psychological traits and behaviours (employment motivation laziness) but also to test the moderating role of gender in the relationship between the two. Data were collected from a higher vocational institution in Guangdong Province, China. The results indicated that digital competency directly and indirectly positively affected lazy employment motivation. However, gender did not play a moderating effect. To address this positive relationship, we need to adopt a critical perspective on the positive and negative effects of digital competency and guide male and female college students to develop positive and healthy rational employment attitudes in terms of focusing on the dark side of digitisation, critical thinking, information overload and overconfidence, so as to reduce the impact of negative and irrational motivation on employment quality.