Employee Retention Model for Generation Z within Government Organizations: A Case Study of the Ministry of Interior
Subject Areas : human resource management
seyedeh maryam Dibaji
1
,
leila saeedi
2
*
,
sedigheh tootian
3
1 -
2 - professor azad university in tehran west
3 - استادیار مدیریت دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی
Keywords: Human Resource Retention, Generation Z Employees, Government Organizations,
Abstract :
Background and Objective: The distinctive attributes of Generation Z—including their diverse employment expectations, the emphasis on work-life balance, and the aspiration to enhance personal skills—have rendered their retention within government organizations a matter of significant importance. The objective of the current study is to develop a model for retaining Generation Z employees within government institutions, specifically targeting the Ministry of Interior.
Research Methodology: This study employed a sequential mixed-methods approach. In the qualitative phase, the dimensions, components, and indicators of the model were examined through qualitative content analysis, utilizing semi-structured interviews with fifteen academic and executive experts from the Ministry of Interior. In the subsequent quantitative phase, structural equation modeling was applied to validate the proposed model. A questionnaire was developed based on the factors identified during the qualitative stage and was distributed among 120 Generation Z employees across various departments within the Ministry of Interior to assess the relationships among indicators and categories. The data collected in the quantitative phase were analyzed using Smart PLS version 3 software.
Findings: The findings indicate that the retention pattern of Generation Z employees within government organizations encompasses aspects such as job satisfaction and support measures, which are influenced by organizational, external, and individual factors pertinent to this generation. These factors subsequently contribute to various individual, organizational, and societal outcomes. Quantitative analyses further validated the significant correlations between the identified indicators and respective components.
Conclusion: The findings of this study may prove valuable in the management of the retention processes for Generation Z employees within governmental institutions.
Adibzadeh, M., & Roknabadi, H. M. (2023). Identifying and prioritizing the factors affecting human resource retention in Islamic Azad University (Case study: North Tehran Branch). Transformative Human Resources Quarterly, 1(2), 70–84. ]In Persian[. https://sanad.iau.ir/journal/thr/Article/702356?jid=702356
Akbari, S., Gholipour, A., & nargesian, A. (2023). Identification the Factors Affecting Retention of Generation Z Employees in the Capital Market (Compensation System). Journal of Research in Human Resources Management, 15(1), 11-52. ]In Persian . https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20084528.1402.15.1.2.0
Bradfield, B. M. (2024). The Impact of Self-determination Theory on Employee Retention, Motivation, and Satisfaction in a Small Business in the Upper Midwest (Doctoral dissertation, University of Sioux Falls).
Carlbäck, M., Nygren, T., & Hägglund, P. (2024). Human resource development in restaurants in Western Sweden–a human capital theory perspective. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 23(2), 289-314. DOI:10.1080/15332845.2024.2282215
Gholipour, A. (2024). Human Resource Management (Concepts, Theories, and Applications). Tehran: SAMT Publications ]In Persian [.
Ghorbanali, H., Mosa-Khani, M., & Daneshfard, K. (2023). Designing a Model for Attraction and Retention of Professional Employees Considering Ethical Components. Ethics in Science and Technology, 18(4), 153–161 ]In Persian [.http://ethicsjournal.ir/article-1-3181-fa.html
Claude, K. J. (2024). The Impact of Records Management on the Effectiveness of Human Resource Management in the Public Sector. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 8(5), 1040-1060. https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.805072
Dahmardeh, M. R., pourshahabi, V., Kamalian, A. R., & Salaerzehi, H. (2024). Presenting a model for the establishment and maintenance of expert human resources in the government organizations of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Management and Educational Perspective, 6(3), 267-281 ]In Persian [. doi: 10.22034/jmep.2024.472390.1401
Das, B. L., & Baruah, M. (2013). Employee retention: A review of literature. Journal of business and management, 14(2), 8-16.DOI:10.9790/487X-1420816
Dehghan, Dariush, Agha Davood Jolfayi, Rasoul, Delavari Esfahani, Mohammad Reza. (2023). Factors Influencing Recruitment and Selection of Generation Z Employees. Journal of Development and Transformation Management, 15(53), 149–171 ]In Persian[. https://doi.org/10.22094/jdem.2023.705868
Jain, U. (2020). Integration Workplace Practices for Generation Z-An e-Delphi study (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University).https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8920
Khan, A. A., Idrees, M., Hussain, J., Amin, K., & Younas, M. (2025). Talent Management in Healthcare: The Impact of Human Resources Practices on Employee Retention and Organizational Commitment: A Quantitative Survey of Medical Colleges in Swat, KP. Competitive Research Journal Archive, 3(01), 86-101.https://thecrja.com/index.php/Journal/article/view/77
Leslie, B., Anderson, C., Bickham, C., Horman, J., Overly, A., Gentry, C., & King, J. (2021). Generation Z perceptions of a positive workplace environment. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 33, 171-187.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10672-021-09366-2
Lestari, Y. A. P., (2023). The Application of Maintenance Functions in The Human Resources Management of Islamic Financial Institutions. Invest Journal of Sharia & Economic Law, 3(1), 70-83.DOI:10.21154/invest.v3i1.5128
Lin, C., Li, X. and Lam, L.W., (2019). Development or maintenance? Dual‐oriented human resource system, employee achievement motivation, and work well‐being. Human Resource Management, 59(4), 311-325. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21997
Moinian, B., Eliasi, M., Bamdad Soufi, J., & Naghavi, M. (2021). Developing a Knowledge Worker Retention Model in Knowledge-Based Companies (Case Study: IT, Communication, and Biotechnology Companies). Journal of Sustainable Human Resource Management, 3(4), 111-89 ] In Persia [. doi: 10.22080/shrm.2021.3321
Mohiuddin, K., Alam, M. A., Alam, M. M., Welke, P., Martin, M., Lehmann, J., & Vahdati, S. (2023, October). Retention is all you need. In Proceedings of the 32nd ACM International Conference on Information and Knowledge Management (pp. 4752-4758). DOI:10.1145/3583780.3615497
Mwosi, F., Eton, M., Olupot, S. P., & Ogwel, B. P. (2024). Employee retention and organizational performance in Kabale District Local Government, Uganda. Annals of Management and Organization Research, 6(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.35912/amor.v6i1.1985
Naidu, P., Majid, A. H. A., & Chuah, F. (2023). Equity Sensitivity and Employee Retention through the Lenses of Social Exchange Theory among Specialist Doctors in Malaysia. Journal of Accounting and Finance in Emerging Economies, 9(4), 553-564. https://doi.org/10.26710/jafee.v9i4.2854
Nayak, S., Jena, D., & Patnaik, S. (2021). Mediation framework connecting knowledge contract, psychological contract, employee retention, and employee satisfaction: An empirical study. International Journal of Engineering Business Management, 13, 18479790211004007. https://doi.org/10.1177/1847979021100400
Nemieboka, E. I. (2025). The Influence of Generational Differences on the Turnover Intentions of the Younger and Older Generations in the United States Workforce (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University). Nistorescu, A. Proposed model for the analysis of the impact of motivation methods on employee retention and performance. Emerging Markets Economics and Business. Contributions of Young Researchers, 296. DOI:10.53378/ijair.353107
Omodan, B. I. (2022). Analysis of" Hierarchy of Needs" as a strategy to enhance academics retention in South African universities. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 11(3), 366-376. DOI:10.36941/ajis-2022-0089
Permana, H., Pratiwi, L. S., Damanik, R. P. A., & Purnamasari, P. (2025). The Influence of Human Resource Management Strategy and Job Satisfaction on Volunteer Retention. International Journal of Education, Information Technology, and Others, 8(1), 166-175. https://jurnal.peneliti.net/index.php/IJEIT/article/view/11402
Peterson, W. (2020). What can organizations do to attract and retain Generation Z? (Doctoral dissertation, Pepperdine University). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJIS-10-2020-0217
Raj, R., & Ling-Meng, C. (2024). A Conceptual Framework for Enhancing Employee Retention in the Public Healthcare Sector Using Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(2), 5891-5905. https://doi.org/10.57239/PJLSS-2024-22.2.00438
Reina, R., & Scarozza, D. (2021). Human resource management in the public administration. Organizational development in public administration: The Italian way, 61-101. 10.1007/978-3-030-43799-2_3
Rombaut, E., & Guerry, M. A. (2020). The effectiveness of employee retention through an uplift modeling approach. International Journal of Manpower, 41(8), 1199-1220. 10.1108/IJM-04-2019-0184
So Hee, L., & Yeojin, Y. (2024). Work values and communication styles among Generation X, Y, and Z nurses: A cross‐sectional study. International Nursing Review, 71(1), 115-121. DOI: 10.1111/inr.12863
Steil, A. V., Bello, J. D. S. A., Cuffa, D. D., & Freitas, A. F. D. (2022). Job satisfaction and employee retention by public and private it organizations. Revista de Administração da UFSM, 15(2), 354-369. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465968850
Verma, P. M. (2020). Generational differences in retention strategies: A study in the automobile industry. Journal of Multidimensional Research & Review, 1(2), 27-42. https://jmrr.org/V1I2/V1I2P_20_08_04.pdf
Xuecheng, W., Iqbal, Q., & Saina, B. (2022). Factors affecting employee’s retention: Integration of situational leadership with social exchange theory. Frontiers in psychology, 13, 872105. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.872105
Yamoah, E. (2024). Human Resource Practices and Employee Retention: The Moderating Effect of Job Engagement. Available at SSRN 5053393. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5053393