Abstract
Job satisfaction among outsourced workers remains understudied in developing regions such as Bihar, India, where technical institutions increasingly rely on outsourced labour for essential services like maintenance and administrative support, often prioritizing cost savings over employee welfare. This study aimed to examine job satisfaction levels and associated challenges among outsourced workers in Bihar’s technical institutions and to identify key interventions. A descriptive-correlation design was used with a sample of 126 outsourced workers from Bihar’s technical institutions. Data were collected using the adapted Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) with a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics revealed moderate satisfaction for salary, leave, and work-life balance (mean M = 1.93); dissatisfaction with working relationships with permanent staff (mean M = 1.28); and dissatisfaction with decisionmaking, skill training, and performance evaluation (mean M = 1.20). Key challenges included inadequate salary (Rank 1), lack of leave and overtime pay (Rank 2), and absence of night differential pay (Rank 3). The findings interpreted through Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, Social Exchange Theory, and the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, highlight the need for enforcement of labor laws, targeted up skilling, participatory mechanisms, and relationshipbuilding initiatives to improve job satisfaction and retention among outsourced workers. Implementing such measures could transform precarious roles into sustainable careers, advancing social equity and labor reforms.
Keywords: Bihar, Job Satisfaction, Labor Policy, Outsourced Workers, Technical Institutions, Work Environment.