Pay disparity and workforce turnover in Indigenous oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study examined pay disparity and workforce turnover in Indigenous oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives of this study were: to determine the effect of the age pay gap on job satisfaction, as well as explore the effect of the gender pay gap on employee engagement in indigenous oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was employed to collect data from the respondents with a structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency tables and percentages. The arithmetic mean was used to analyse respondents’ responses and the hypotheses were tested using simple linear regression analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 27). Results indicated that the age pay gap has a statistically significant effect on job satisfaction. Also, there is a significant negative effect of the gender pay gap on employee engagement in indigenous oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study concluded that there is a statistically significant negative effect of pay disparity and workforce turnover in Indigenous oil and gas firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The study recommended that the management of oil and gas firms need to implement equitable compensation structures to bridge Indigenous pay gaps and boost employee commitment. Also, Oil and gas firms must eliminate gender pay disparities to enhance employee engagement by conducting regular pay audits, enforcing transparent compensation policies, and providing equal pay for equal work.