Linking individuals’ resources with (perceived) sustainable employability: Perspectives from conservation of resources and social information processing theory

Abstract

Rapid technological advances, socio-economic changes, globalization and increasingly dynamic working environments continue to present unique challenges for individuals with regard to sustaining their employability. While previous research highlights key factors that shape an individual's employability and ways of getting employment, there is a paucity of research on sustainable employability. To bridge this gap, this paper adopts an integrative review methodology to assess, analyse and synthesize extant literature on sustainable employability with the main focus on its antecedents. Building on conservation of resources theory and social information processing theory, our analysis demonstrates that sustainable employability involves three key components: employability, vitality and work ability. The analysis further reveals that sustainable employability can be achieved through selected personal and social support resources. Based on these we develop an integrative sustainable employability framework proposing personal and social support resources as key antecedents of sustainable employability. Personal resources comprise career competencies, psychological capital, mindfulness, core self-evaluations and emotional intelligence. Social support resources are provided by co-workers and supervisors and exhibited as social cues. With that, we extend and contribute to the sustainable employability literature by offering avenues for future research. From a managerial perspective, this review holds important implications for individuals to enrich their working capabilities as well as organizations to employ productive individuals.