Vocational identity and work engagement: The mediating effect of career adaptability

Orientation: Given that freelancers work for multiple clients for varying periods, it is their responsibility to enhance their own levels of work engagement. For organisations to benefit from the use of freelancers, they need to ensure that freelancers utilise emotional, cognitive and physical energies in completing their work to become engaged. Research purpose: This study set out to examine: (1) the influence of freelancers’ vocational identity and career adaptability on their work engagement and (2) whether career adaptability mediates the relationship between vocational identity and work engagement. Motivation for the study: The study posited that vocational identity and career adaptability function as resources aiding freelancers to enhance their work engagement levels. Research approach/design and method: Using a quantitative, cross-sectional approach, we examined 124 freelancers’ vocational identity, career adaptability and work engagement. Mediation analysis guided the evaluation of hypotheses. Main findings: Results revealed a significant positive relationship between vocational identity and work engagement. Interestingly, only the control dimension of career adaptability showed a significant positive link with work engagement. The control dimension of career adaptability partly mediated the direct link between vocational identity and work engagement. Practical/managerial implications: Practically, freelancers seem to employ both their vocational identity and career control to enhance their levels of work engagement. Suggesting that a freelancer’s work engagement is contingent upon the extent to which they can express their preferred self in their work and their perceived control over their futures. Contribution/value-add: This study advances the current understanding of the factors that influence freelancers’ work engagement.