Job satisfaction measurement in public and private sector: A comparative study in Erbil, Iraq

The aim of this study was to examine job satisfaction measurement in the public and private sectors in Erbil. After examining the research questions of this study, the method used to collect data and analyze data for this research work was quantitative research methodology where questionnaire was distributed to collect data from respondents. Respondents' answers provided adequate information and data useful for the research. Correlation analysis and two-way ANOVA were the methods used to analyze quantitative data. This comprised the correlation between job satisfaction and job performance. Job satisfaction and job performance are the two variables in this study that were used to examine job satisfaction measurement in the public and private sectors in Erbil in North of Iraq. The results obtained from the findings showed that there is significant higher level of job satisfaction and job performance in the private sector than in the public sector. The private sector is making huge progress in its recruitment policies to get the right people hired and give them better working conditions. This has relatively increased job performance in the private sector. Although there was economic slowdown in Iraq caused by political crisis, the level of job satisfaction in the private sector has increased followed by an increase in job performance in the private sector. The private sector in North of Iraq is profitable, making financial gains and great investing and the government of North of Iraq have high expectations that in the years to come, investment in the private sector will yield more profits and enormously contribute to booming the economy of North of Iraq. The private sector wants to continue making the workplaces more comfortable to push up job satisfaction and job performance from below and the government of North of Iraq is eager to make the investment environment in North of Iraq more conducive. The findings from the study were not enough to say that the level of job satisfaction and job performance are higher in the private sector than in the public sector. Actors in the process of evaluating the economic performance of both the private and public sectors in Erbil may continue to see the profit making side of these sectors and uphold this activity. Also, academicians may not become less intense in their researches on job satisfaction measurement in the private and public sectors.