The Influence of Work Motivation on Employee Performance with Job Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable
Abstract
This study aims to examine the effect of work motivation on employee job satisfaction at the Gowa Regency Trade and Industry Office. Human resources are the main factor in determining the success of an organization, so work motivation is an important aspect to improve employee performance. This study uses a quantitative approach with data collection techniques through questionnaires to the entire population of 36 people, consisting of 29 Civil Servants and 7 honorary workers. The analysis technique used is path analysis with the help of the SPSS 23 program. The results show that work motivation has a positive and significant effect on employee job satisfaction with a p-value of 0.000 < 0.05. The highest indicator of work motivation is work performance, followed by work facilities, recognition from superiors, remuneration, and working conditions. This finding strengthens the results of previous studies that state that work motivation can increase employee job satisfaction. Facts in the field show that there are efforts to provide motivation by leaders through challenging tasks, direction, and appreciation for employee performance. Thus, the higher the work motivation given to employees, the higher their level of job satisfaction. These results form an important basis for efforts to improve the quality of human resources in government environments.
References
Agustina, R., Yusuf, M., Sutiyan, O. S. J., Ardianto, R., & Norvadewi, N. (2024). Employee performance mediated quality of work life relationship satisfaction on the job and organizational commitment. Jurnal Darma Agung, 30(2), 589-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.46930/ojsuda.v30i2.2278
Ahmad, S. (2021). Motivation and performance: A psychological process. International Journal of Business and Management Research, 9(2), 104-112. https://doi.org/10.37391/IJBMR.090201
Alzen, A. (2021). Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja pegawai. Jurnal SALMAN (Sosial dan Manajemen), 2(1), 9-15.
Atmojo, M. (2012). The influence of transformational leadership on job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and employee performance. International research journal of business studies, 5(2), 113-128.
Azmy, A. (2022). Effect of compensation and organizational commitment on employee performance during WFH at digital company. Jurnal Economia, 18(1), 70-88. https://doi.org/10.21831/economia.v18i1.44949
Berliana, M., Siregar, N., & Gustian, H. D. (2018). The model of job satisfaction and employee performance. International Review of Management and Marketing, 8(6), 41. https://doi.org/10.32479/irmm.7183
Buntaran, F. A. A., Andika, D., & Alfiyana, V. Y. (2019). Impact of job satisfaction on job performance. Review of Behavioral Aspect in Organizations and Society, 1(2), 121-128. https://doi.org/10.32770/rbaos.vol1121-128
Cai, J. (2023). Effects of leadership styles and organizational strategy to enhance performance efficiency. Journal of Enterprise and Business Intelligence, 3(1), 012-022. https://doi.org/10.53759/5181/JEBI202303002
Dziuba, S. T., Ingaldi, M., & Zhuravskaya, M. (2020). Employees' job satisfaction and their work performance as elements influencing work safety. System Safety: Human-Technical Facility-Environment, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.2478/czoto-2020-0003
Garaika, G. (2020). Pengaruh Kompensasi, motivasi kerja dan kepuasan kerja sebagai variabel intervening terhadap kinerja. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Dan Bisnis, 21(1), 28-41. https://doi.org/10.30596/jimb.v21i1.4181
Hajiali, I., Kessi, A. M. F., Budiandriani, B., Prihatin, E., & Sufri, M. M. (2022). Determination of work motivation, leadership style, employee competence on job satisfaction and employee performance. Golden Ratio of Human Resource Management, 2(1), 57-69. https://doi.org/10.52970/grhrm.v2i1.160
Haq, A. M., & Roesminingsih, E. (2024). Situational leadership skills of foundation heads in human resource development for early childhood education. Munaddhomah: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 5(1), 26-40. https://doi.org/10.31538/munaddhomah.v5i1.545
Hayati, S., & Saputra, L. A. (2023). Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Dengan Kepuasan Kerja Sebagai Variabel Intervening Pada Cv. Jaya Anugrah. Business Management, 2(1), 49-53. https://doi.org/10.58258/bisnis.v2i1.5430
Kuncoro, M. (2001). Metode kuantitatif: Teori dan aplikasi untuk bisnis dan ekonomi. Yogyakarta: UPP STIM YKPN
Latham, G. P. (2023). Motivate employee performance through goal setting. Principles of organizational behavior: the handbook of evidence‐based management 3rd Edition, 83-111. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405164047.ch8
Locke, E. A., & Baum, J. R. (2014). Entrepreneurial motivation. In The psychology of entrepreneurship (pp. 125-144). Psychology Press.
Meridiana, O., & Veri, J. (2025). Influence knowledge Management and talent Managementon Employee Performance Withemployee Engagementas an Intervening Variable in the Youth and Sports Service of West Sumatra Province. Jurnal Multidisiplin Sahombu, 5(07), 2222-2231.
Nitasari, R. A., & Lataruva, E. (2012). Analisis pengaruh motivasi kerja terhadap kinerja karyawan dengan kepuasan kerja sebagai variabel intervening pada PT. Bank Central Asia tbk. cabang kudus (Doctoral dissertation, Fakultas Ekonomika dan Bisnis).
Perkasa, D. H., Harbiato, F., Al Faruq, M., Wuryandari, N. E. R., & Rostini, C. N. (2023). The Influence of Recruitment, Training, and Motivation Systems on Employee Performance Bank Mandiri Latumentten Branch West Jakarta. KnE Social Sciences, 89-103. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v8i12.13654
Pisriwati, S. A., Hardi, Y., & Siswanto, D. H. (2024). Enhancing organizational development through principal leadership to improve teacher and staff work discipline. Journal of Organizational and Human Resource Development Strategies, 1(01), 52-62. https://doi.org/10.56741/ohds.v1i01.670
Prabowo, T. S., Noermijati, N., & Irawanto, D. W. (2018). The influence of transformational leadership and work motivation on employee performance mediated by job satisfaction. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 16(1), 171-â. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2018.016.01.20
Riyanto, S., Endri, E., & Herlisha, N. (2021). Effect of work motivation and job satisfaction on employee performance: Mediating role of employee engagement. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(3), 162. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.19(3).2021.14
Rosa, G. J., Valente, B. D., de los Campos, G., Wu, X. L., Gianola, D., & Silva, M. A. (2011). Inferring causal phenotype networks using structural equation models. Genetics Selection Evolution, 43(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9686-43-6
Sanosra, A., Hakim, A. R., Cahyono, D., Qomariah, N., & Thamrin, M. (2022). Role of knowledge sharing and leadership style in improving employee performance with work culture as an intervening variable. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen, 20(4), 920-937. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2022.020.04.14
Sedarmayanti, H. (2018). Manajemen sumber daya manusia; reformasi birokrasi dan manajemen pegawai negeri sipil. Bandung: Reflika Aditama.
Setia, B. I., Yuniarsih, T., Gaffar, M. F., Suryadi, E., Affandi, A., & Rohmawati, T. (2022). Job satisfaction as a mediator in improving employee performance through talent and knowledge management. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research (JEECAR), 9(5), 749-762. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v9i5.1060
Slater, P., & Hasson, F. (2025). Data measurement, instruments and sampling. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 32(3), 680-685. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.13142
Solimun, M. S. (2002). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) Lisrel dan Amos. Malang: Fakultas MIPA Universitas Brawijaya.
Sugiyono (2019). Metode Penelitian Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, dan R&D. Bandung: Alfabeta.
Sugiyono. (2002). Metode Penelitian. Bandung: Alfabeta
Susanto, P. C., Syailendra, S., & Suryawan, R. F. (2023). Determination of motivation and performance: Analysis of job satisfaction, employee engagement and leadership. International Journal of Business and Applied Economics, 2(2), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.55927/ijbae.v2i2.2135
Wahyudi, M., Hasibuan, I. A., Hakim, L., Nasution, M. T., Karo, M. F. J. K., & Nasti, N. (2026). Analysis of the Influence of Work Culture on Employee Performance at the Regent's Office in the General Section of the Regional Secretariat of Langkat Regency. Journal of Finance and Business Digital, 5(1), 135-152.
Wirawan. (2013). Kepemimpinan : Teori, Psikologi, Perilaku Organisasi, Aplikasi dan Penelitian. Jakarta: PT. Raja Grafindo Persada.
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal La Sociale
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
