Changes in U.S. Workers’ Values and Satisfaction After COVID-19

Abstract

The collective changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic impacting both individual workers and their environment suggest that changes occurred in workers’ person-environment fit. Drawing from the Theory of Work Adjustment and job crafting theory to examine how the pandemic may have shifted workers’ needs and the environmental reinforcers that lead to satisfaction, the purpose of this study was to explore how members of the U.S. workforce have adapted to the personal and environmental changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 439 participants were recruited through Prolific to participate in the study. Regression analyses were conducted to predict workers’ changes in values, occupational reinforcers, P-E fit, and adjustment styles. Results indicated (a) that participants who changed jobs during the pandemic reported greater job satisfaction with their new position, (b) that some work values changed for participants, and (c) that workers engaged in job crafting and distinct types of adjustment to increase satisfaction during the pandemic. Implications for future research and applications for career development professionals are discussed.