The impact of job security, job satisfaction and job embeddedness on employee retention: an empirical investigation of Pakistan's health-care industry

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of job security on doctors' retention, with job satisfaction and job embeddedness as the mediators. In doing so, the authors seek to contribute to the existing literature by providing additional empirical evidence on the links between job security, job satisfaction, job embeddedness and employee retention by using social exchange theory. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted on doctors working in public hospitals in Pakistan. Data from selected public hospitals were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The simple random sampling method was applied for participant selection and partial least squares-structural equation modelling was used for data analysis purposes. Findings The findings confirmed the direct and mediation relationships. Thus, all of this study's hypotheses are supported. The results indicate that job security can improve doctors' retention. Further, job satisfaction and job embeddedness play crucial roles in mediating the direct relationship. Originality/value This study elaborates job security in health-care sector of Pakistan and also provides empirical evidence of the antecedents and mediators of doctors' intention to continue working in the health-care industry.