Job satisfaction comparisons between academic librarians in for-profit and non-profit higher education institutions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the job satisfaction levels of academic librarians employed within the for-profit higher education section. Using Spector's Job Satisfaction Survey which measure job satisfaction within nine constructs, academic librarians from traditional, non-profit, four-year or more, higher education institutions and academic librarians from for-profit, four year or more, higher education institutions were sent a survey questionnaire through e-mail. Comparisons between the two groups were made using independent samples f-tests. Findings indicate that academic librarians from for-profit higher education institutions are not as satisfied with their jobs as academic librarians in traditional, non-profit institutions. No significant differences were found in the areas of pay, promotion, supervision, or coworkers. Significant differences were indicated in the job satisfaction areas of fringe benefits, contingent rewards, operating conditions, nature of work, and communication. While results from this study appear to be less positive for for-profit higher education institutions, the number of respondents from the non-profit sector was much smaller than the responses from the for-profit group and this should be taken into account when evaluating the responses. The statistical responses should be coupled with the narrative responses which indicated that academic librarians from for-profit institutions have positive feelings regarding important aspects of their jobs.