Predictors Influencing Job Satisfaction among Simpang Renggam Youths towards Willingness to Work in the Oil Palm Plantation of Renggam Estate

Abstract

Malaysia’s oil palm sector has grown significantly over the years. However, it is not backed up with an adequate workforce and currently heavily dependent on foreigners as most locals tend to stay away from working in oil palm plantations. Kulim (M) Berhad’s Renggam Estate too is having similar difficulties in meeting its labour requirements. Thus this study aims to determine the predictors that may influence the local youths’ satisfaction towards working at Renggam Estate in terms of work environment, salary and benefits, social status, government policies, and social facilities. The study was conducted by using quantitative method through survey using a structured questionnaire on 367 local youths in Simpang Renggam, Johor who were selected by using cluster sampling technique as the respondents. It was found that work environment and social status are the two most significant predictors of job satisfaction. Overall, this study had shown that Renggam Estate should improve its work environment and the local youths’ perception of plantation jobs in order to attract them to work at Renggam Estate.