Vocational Calling, Meaningful Work, and Job Satisfaction Among Disability Services Providers

Recruiting and retaining a strong disability workforce remains an enduring concern in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Yet little attention has focused on the sense of calling that disability service providers have to this important work and its relationships to their job satisfaction. We surveyed 269 disability service providers to examine whether they (a) perceive a calling in their life, (b) are living out that calling in their current work, (c) find meaning in their career, and (d) experience job satisfaction. The experience of both having and living out one’s calling in their current work was especially prominent among participants. Likewise, most providers indicated they drew considerable meaning and purpose from their work. Perceiving a calling contributed to higher job satisfaction through living out one’s calling and finding meaning in one’s work. Some variations in ratings were associated with personal demographics (i.e., sex, years of experience). These findings provide new insights into what might draw disability service providers into this work or sustain their commitment amidst challenging and changing working conditions. We highlight areas for research and practice aimed at place of calling within efforts to strengthening recruitment and retention.