title: Job Satisfaction: A Critical, Understudied Facet of Workforce Development in Public Health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The field of public health faces multiple challenges in its efforts to recruit and retain a robust workforce. Public health departments offer salaries that are lower than the private sector, and government bureaucracy can be a deterrent for those seeking to make a difference.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this research was to explore the relationship between general employee satisfaction and specific characteristics of the job and the health agency and to make recommendations regarding what health agencies can do to support recruitment and retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study using data collected from the 2014 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS). A nationally representative sample was constructed from 5 geographic (paired adjacent HHS [US Department of Health and Human Services]) regions and stratified by population and state governance type. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using the balanced repeated replication method to account for the complex sampling design. A multivariate linear regression was used to examine job satisfaction and factors related to supervisory and organizational support adjusting for relevant covariates.
  
  
  METHODS
  PH WINS data were collected from state health agency central office employees using an online survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level of job satisfaction using the Job in General Scale (abridged).
  
  
  RESULTS
  State health agency central office staff (n = 10,246) participated in the survey (response rate 46%). Characteristics related to supervisory and organizational support were highly associated with increased job satisfaction. Supervisory status, race, organization size, and agency tenure were also associated with job satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public health leaders aiming to improve levels of job satisfaction should focus on workforce development and training efforts as well as adequate supervisory support, especially for new hires and nonsupervisors.
authors.affiliation: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Arlington, Virginia (Drs Harper, Bharthapudi, and Sellers); and de Beaumont Foundation, Bethesda, Maryland (Mr Castrucci).
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Castrucci
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bharthapudi
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sellers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health / Q000639:trends; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce