Job satisfaction and 'welfare-to-work': Is any job a good job for Australian single mothers?

Journal article


Cook, Kay and Noblet, Andrew. (2012). Job satisfaction and 'welfare-to-work': Is any job a good job for Australian single mothers? Australian Journal of Social Issues. 47(2), pp. 203 - 219.
AuthorsCook, Kay and Noblet, Andrew
Abstract

This exploratory study sought to assess the job satisfaction of employed Australian single mothers who had mandatory employment participation requirements. In particular, we sought to identify the characteristics of the job and the individual that were closely associated with participant's job satisfaction. Self‑report data on job satisfaction, employment characteristics and parenting stress were collected from 155 employed single mothers. Participant job satisfaction was compared to female Australian population norms and linear regression analyses determined the job‑related and individual predictors of single mothers' job satisfaction. Findings from this exploratory study revealed that single mothers involved in a mandatory welfare‑to‑work program experienced significantly lower job satisfaction than the Australian female population. The individual variable, parental distress, negatively predicted each of the six job satisfaction domains while being employed on a casual basis was inversely associated with three domains (job security, work hours and overall job satisfaction). The Australian government purported that making the transition from welfare to work would improve wellbeing for program participants, under the assumption that 'any job's a good job'. However, the relatively low levels of job satisfaction experienced by single mothers in the current study provide little support for this assumption.

Keywordswelfare‑to‑work; single parents; job satisfaction; employment; parental distress
Year2012
JournalAustralian Journal of Social Issues
Journal citation47 (2), pp. 203 - 219
PublisherAustralian Council of Social Service
ISSN0157-6321
Scopus EID2-s2.0-84875481746
Page range203 - 219
Research GroupPeter Faber Business School
Publisher's version
File Access Level
Controlled
Place of publicationAustralia
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/87862/job-satisfaction-and-welfare-to-work-is-any-job-a-good-job-for-australian-single-mothers

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