How Job Crafting Activates Proactivity in Gen Z Workers within Traditional Manufacturing Environments

Abstract

This study investigates how job crafting enhances proactivity and work engagement among Generation Z workers in traditional manufacturing environments in China. Using pilot data collected from 114 Gen Z employees, the study applies Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to examine the direct, mediating, and moderating effects in the proposed model. Results demonstrate that job crafting has a positive and significant effect on work engagement, and that psychological capital (PsyCap) partially mediates this relationship. While servant leadership did not yield a statistically significant moderating effect in the pilot sample, its direction aligns with theoretical expectations, suggesting potential amplification of job crafting’s benefits under supportive leadership conditions. The findings highlight the value of fostering job crafting and psychological resources in enhancing Gen Z workers’ adaptability and proactivity in rigid manufacturing contexts. This exploratory pilot study lays a foundation for larger-scale empirical validation and offers practical implications for organizational leaders seeking to retain and empower young employees.