Theoretical Review of Employee Job Satisfaction: A Qualitative Literature Study on Determinants and Organizational

Abstract

Employee job satisfaction has emerged as a critical issue in contemporary organizations due to shifting work dynamics, increasing employee expectations, and the growing importance of psychological well-being in driving performance. This study aims to develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of employee job satisfaction by synthesizing its key determinants and organizational implications. Adopting a qualitative literature study approach, this research systematically analyzes approximately 70 peer-reviewed articles published between 2019 and 2025, employing thematic synthesis and interpretive analysis to identify patterns, relationships, and inconsistencies across the literature. The findings reveal that job satisfaction is predominantly shaped by the interaction of intrinsic factors such as meaningful work and autonomy, relational factors such as leadership and organizational support, and, to a lesser extent, extrinsic factors such as compensation. Furthermore, the study highlights the mediating role of employee engagement and the moderating influence of organizational culture and digital leadership in strengthening or weakening these relationships. Importantly, this study contributes by integrating fragmented theoretical perspectives into a unified framework, offering a more holistic explanation of job satisfaction beyond traditional single-theory approaches. The findings also provide practical implications for organizations to design more effective human resource strategies that prioritize psychological and relational dimensions of work. Overall, this study advances both theory and practice by positioning job satisfaction as a strategic and multidimensional construct, thereby offering a high-impact contribution that underscores its relevance in achieving sustainable organizational success.