Home⇛ADMINISTRA Official Research Journal of the BSOA Program⇛vol. 2 no. 1 (2026)

Professional Landscape Of Non-Degree Holder Employees In The Government: Assessing Challenges, Aspirations And Professional Growth

Roes Concepcion | Jimmuel Diao | Jirah Maday-a | Gina Napolitano | Nimpha Amtalao

Discipline: management studies

 

Abstract:

This study examined the challenges encountered, career aspirations, and professional growth initiatives among non-degree holder employees in government offices. Specifically, it determined the extent of intrinsic and extrinsic challenges experienced by the respondents, assessed the extent of their career aspirations and professional growth initiatives, and identified significant relationships among the variables. The study used a quantitative-descriptive correlational research design, employing survey questionnaires to collect data from non-degree holder employees in government offices. Findings revealed that respondents experienced both intrinsic and extrinsic challenges at a “Challenging” level. Intrinsic challenges were mainly associated with stress, self-confidence, and lack of preparedness for unfamiliar tasks, while extrinsic challenges were primarily related to compensation, workload, and perceived inequities in workplace treatment. Despite these challenges, respondents demonstrated high to very high levels of career aspirations across competition, freedom, management, work-life balance, organizational membership, expertise, and learning and entrepreneurship. The study further showed that respondents demonstrated very high levels of professional growth initiatives, particularly in readiness to change, planfulness, use of resources, and intentional behaviors. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships between challenges encountered and certain career aspirations, particularly competition and management. However, no significant relationship was found between challenges encountered and professional growth initiatives. Moreover, career aspirations were significantly related to all dimensions of professional growth initiatives, indicating that stronger aspirations motivate employees toward continuous self-improvement and professional development. The study recommends that government offices strengthen employee development programs, provide fair compensation and support systems, and create inclusive opportunities for career growth and professional advancement, regardless of educational background.



References:

  1. Alolabi, Y. A., Ayupp, K., & Dwaikat, M. A. (2021). Issues and Implications of Readiness to Change. Administrative Sciences, 11(4), 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci11040140
  2. Aquino, N. M. (2026). Two-Factor Theory Model Testing Among Employees in a Government Service Sector Organization. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 17 (6), 565-586. https://doi.org//10.70838/pemj.170604
  3. Ashikuzzaman, M. D. (2024). Understanding Knowledge Sharing: Definition, Benefits and Best Practices. LIS Education Network. https://tinyurl.com/2zvmaapf
  4. Bauer, T. N., Erdogan, B., Caughlin, D. E., Ellis, A. M., & Kurkoski, J. (2021). Jump-Starting the Socialization Experience: The Longitudinal Role of Day 1 Newcomer Resources on Adjustment. Journal of Management. 47 (8), 2226-2261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206320962835
  5. Capron, R. (2026). Work-Life Balance. In: Dhiman, S. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51650-4_36-1
  6. Chanana, N., & S. (2020). Employee engagement practices during COVID‐19 lockdown. Journal of Public Affairs, 21. https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2508
  7. Civil Service Commission. (2017). 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions (ORAOHRA), As Amended. https://www.csc.gov.ph
  8. Chang, Y., Chang, W., & Fadhil, A. (2024). Enterprising Spirit Rejuvenated: Entrepreneurship Education in Shaping Company Employees’ Career Commitment and Turnover Intentions. New England Journal of Entrepreneurship. https://doi.org/10.1108/neje-02-2024-0009
  9. Coronado, P. Z., Reyes, M. J. S., & Britanico, K. B. (2025). Workplace challenges in the local government unit of Polangui, Albay, Philippines. Jurnal Genesis Indonesia- Indonesian Institute of Science and Technology Research, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.56741/jgi.v4i02.910
  10. Darmadi, D., & Suwanto, S. (2025). The Effect of Compensation System and Career Development on Job Satisfaction in the Retail Industry. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Kesatuan. https://doi.org/10.37641/jimkes.v13i4.3367
  11. Davitadze, M. (2023). Labour and employment policy: Opportunities and challenges for undergraduate students. European Scientific Journal, 19(35), 99. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2023.v19n35p99
  12. De Vos, A., Van der Heijden, B. I. J. M., & Akkermans, J. (2020). Sustainable careers: Towards a conceptual model. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 117, 103196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2018.06.011
  13. Donald, W., Baruch, Y., & Ashleigh, M. J. (2019). The undergraduate self-perception of employability: human capital, careers advice, and career ownership. Studies in Higher Education, 44, 599 - 614. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1387107
  14. Hamori, M. (2023). Self-Directed Learning in Massive Open Online Courses and Its Application at the Workplace: Does Employer Support Matter? Journal of Business Research, 157, 113590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113590
  15. Han, Y., Zhou, Y., Carr, S., & Jiang, J. (2024). Lifelong Learning in the workplace: The Knowledge Management Role of Corporate Universities in China. Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, Vol. 11 (1), 189-11. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02693-3
  16. Hu, W., Liu, H., Tian, Y., Zhang, X., & Mao, Y. (2022) Entrepreneurial Capability, Career Development, and Entrepreneurial Intention: Evidence from China’s HR Survey Data. Front. Psychol. 13:870706. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.870706
  17. Indriastuti, D., & Fachrunnisa, O. (2021). Achieving Organizational Change: Preparing Individual to Change and their Impact on Performance. Public Organization Review, 21(3), 377-391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-020-00494-1
  18. Jang, E., & Kim, Y. C. (2025). Autonomy Constrained: The Dynamic Interplay Among Job Autonomy, Work Engagement, and Innovative Behavior Under Performance Pressure. Administrative Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15030097
  19. Junejo, S., Jiskani, A., & Lashari, S. (2025). The effect of career development, work motivation, and job satisfaction on employee performance. Journal of Social & Organizational Matters. https://doi.org/10.56976/jsom.v4i2.215
  20. Kim, J., & Park, J. (2022). Linking Authentic Leadership with Employee Initiative Behavior and Task Performance: The Mediating Role of Emotional Sharing and Communication Satisfaction. SAGE Open, 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221086657
  21. L, L., & Muhammad, R. (2023). The Association Between Work-Life Balance and Employee Mental Health: A systematic review. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. https://doi.org/10.24083/apjhm.v18i3.2565
  22. Lartey, S. A., Montgomery, C., Olson, J., & Cummings, G. (2023). Leadership self-efficacy and nurses’ aspiration to leadership: An evolutionary concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 143, 104496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104496
  23. Lee, D. Y., & Jo, Y. (2023). The Job Demands-Resource Model and Performance: The Mediating Role of Employee Engagement. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1194018. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1194018
  24. Manzo, C. G., Macabata, N. S., & Galay-Limos, J. A. (2025). Motivation: Impact on job satisfaction and performance of local government unit employees in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. International Journal of Research Studies in Management, 13(8), 43–60. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsm.2025.25520
  25. Ramos, A. M., Ramos, V., & Idava, P. (2023). Challenges, aspirations, and growth initiatives of undergraduate employees in a government agency: Basis for recommendations for human empowerment. The QUEST Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.60008/thequest.v3i1.175
  26. Rodrigues, R., Guest, D., Oliveira, T., & Alfes, K. (2023). Preparing for the Future: Relationship Between Career Orientation, Proactive Career Behaviors and Career Satisfaction. Psychologie du Travail et des Organisations. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pto.2023.07.001
  27. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in human behavior: Theoretical developments and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 101860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860
  28. Simmons, J., Wolff, H.-G., Forret, M. L., & Sullivan, S. E. (2022). A Longitudinal Investigation of the Kaleidoscope Career Model, Networking Behaviors, and Career Succes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 138, 103764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103764
  29. Slemp, G., Field, J. G., Ryan, R. M., Forner, V. W., Van Den Broeck, A., & Lewis, K. J. (2024). Interpersonal supports for basic psychological needs and their relations with motivation, well-being, and performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of personality and social psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000459
  30. Spurk, D., Hofer, A., & Kauffeld, S. (2021). Why does competitive psychological climate foster or hamper career success? The role of challenge and hindrance pathways and leader-member exchange. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 127, 103542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2021.103542
  31. Suen, T. Y. T., Cheung, S. K. S., Wang, F. L., & Hui, J. Y. K. (2022). Effects of intrinsic and external intrinsic motivational factors on employee participation in internal crowdsourcing initiative in China. Sustainability, 14(14), 8878. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/14/8878
  32. Tisu, L., Rusu, A., Sulea, C., & Virga, D. (2022). Job Resources and Strengths Use in Relation to Employee Performance: A Contextualized View. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 129 (3), 705-726. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294121997783
  33. Wang, L., & Chen, Y. (2022). Success or growth? Distinctive roles of extrinsic and intrinsic career goals in high-performance work systems, job crafting, and job performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 135, 103714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2022.103714
  34. Wang, H., Demerouti, E., Rispens, S., & van Gool, P. J. R. (2024). Crafting Networks: A Self-Training Intervention. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 149, 103956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2023.103956
  35. Weigold, I. K., Weigold, A., Dykema, S. A., Drakeford, N. M., & Ethridge, E. T. (2024). Personal Growth Initiative: Relation to Coping Styles, Strategies, and Self-Efficacy. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00782-3
  36. Wibisono, G., & Mauludin, H. (2025). The Influence of Achievement Needs and Employee Competencies on Career Achievement. The Contrarian: Finance, Accounting, and Business Research. https://doi.org/10.58784/cfabr.330
  37. Xin, L., Zhou, W., Li, M., & Tang, F. (2020). Career Success Criteria Clarity as a Predictor of Employment Outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 540. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00540
  38. Yang, Y., Chen, L., Wei, F., & Zhang, Y. (2023). Leadership Emergence Through Advice-Seeking Network: A Moderated Mediation Model. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023 (1), 18248. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.18248abstract
  39. Yin, K., Zhao, L., Chi, Z., Song, H., & Dong, N. (2026). The relationship between employees’ growth mindset, well-being, and job performance: Evidence from a Meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113507
  40. Zhang, Z., Fang, H., Luan, Y., Chen, Q., & Peng, J. (2022). A Meta-Analysis of Proactive Personality and Career Success: The Mediating Effects of Task Performance and Organizational Citizenship Behavior. Frontiers Psychology, 13, 979412. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.979412

Tools


Copyright © 2026  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic