Age and job satisfaction

Previous research has consistently shown a small positive correlation between age and job satisfaction. This correlation could result from influences associated with aging or cohort membership or both. These possible explanations were tested using a representative 1/2% sample of employees in metropolitan Adelaide. From interviews/questionnaires, measures were obtained of variables associated with aging (skill-utilization, influence, variety and income) and of variables associated with cohort membership (desired skill-utilization, desired influence, desired variety and education). Using partial correlations, it was found that neither aging nor cohort variables alone accounted for the expected positive correlation between age and job satisfaction. However, the correlation became unsubstantial when the joint effects of aging and cohort variables were partialled out. This finding was interpreted in terms of decreasing discrepancy between desired and perceived job attributes with increasing age.