The Effect Of Career Concern On Employee Performance At Bamburi Cement Mombasa County, Kenya

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the effect of career concern on employee performance at Bamburi Cement Company in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study sought to establish whether career concern, measured through career aspirations, career planning, monitoring of career opportunities, preparation for future career challenges, and professional development goals, significantly influences employee performance.

Methodology: The study was anchored on Career Construction Theory and employed an explanatory research design. The target population comprised 405 employees of Bamburi Cement Company, including staff from the Mombasa manufacturing plant, Nairobi grinding plant, and head office. Stratified random sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 297 respondents. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires, of which 250 valid responses were analyzed, representing an effective response rate of 84.18%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis, with employee experience, gender, and age treated as control variables.

Findings: The findings revealed that career concern had a strong positive and statistically significant relationship with employee performance (r = .740, p < .001). Hierarchical regression analysis further established that career concern significantly and positively influenced employee performance (β = .245, p < .001), while the explanatory power of the model increased from 39.1% to 63.4% after introducing career concern into the regression model, representing a significant increase of 24.3 percentage points in explained variance. Employee experience (β = .170, p < .001), gender (β = .201, p < .001), and age (β = .141, p < .001) also had significant positive effects on employee performance.

Conclusion: The study concluded that career concern is a critical determinant of employee performance at Bamburi Cement Company. Employees who actively plan for their future careers, establish professional development goals, and prepare for changing career demands are more likely to demonstrate improved work performance. Investments in career planning, mentoring, professional development, and career progression opportunities can enhance employee performance and organizational productivity in manufacturing firms.

Value: The study contributes to Career Construction Theory by demonstrating the importance of career concern as a future-oriented psychosocial resource in explaining employee performance within a manufacturing context. The findings provide practical insights for policymakers, Bamburi Cement management, and human resource practitioners in strengthening career development initiatives, employee productivity, and workforce development in Kenya.