Factor Structure of Preferences for Job Attributes among Japanese Workers

Abstract

The present study examined the factor structure of job attributes as related to job selection among 596 Japanese workers. Subjects were asked to complete a questionnaire in which they rated the importance of 22 job attributes on a 5-point scale. Three factors were extracted by principal factor analysis and the factors were rotated by a normalized varimax criterion. The factors were defined as established facilities, future prospects, and utility of specialty factors. Factor scores were compared among amounts of management experience and gender, i.e., divided into 4 groups. There were some significant differences among those amounts of experience and gender in two factors: nonmanagerial workers rated the established facilities as more important than did managerial workers and female clerks rated the future prospects as less important than did male workers.