Causal relationships between perceived employability and well-being among employed workers and unemployed job seekers

Background Previous studies established a positive relationship between perceived employability (PE) and affective well-being (AWB). PE concerns the individual's perception of his or her possibilities of getting employment and AWB refers to the presence of pleasant affect (e.g., happiness) and the absence of unpleasant affect (e.g., depressed mood). The aim of this study is to (1) further investigate this relationship accounting for causality (2) among both the employed and the unemployed in outplacement. PE may increase AWB, as PE induces a sense of control over one's career. Alternatively, AWB may stimulate PE, when employers favor applicants in good mental health, or when good mental health implies a more optimistic outlook and confidence in oneself. Methodology Hypotheses were tested in two samples. The first sample was collected among the employed in 2011 (time 1) and 2012 (time 2). In total, 600 Flemish participants completed both questionnaires. The second sample concerns the unemployed in outplacement. 179 Flemish respondents completed the questionnaires at the beginning (time 1) and middle (time 2) of their individual outplacement track. Results Results from a cross-lagged analysis indicate that among the employed PE positively affects AWB while with the unemployed in outplacement it is AWB that predicts PE. Importance This study contributes to the literature by addressing the issue of causality in two different contexts. As we established different results in the two samples, this warrants future researchers that the relationship between PE and AWB is rather complex and needs to be investigated further on.