YOUNG AND STRESSED: WORK PRESSURE VERSUS MOTIVATION AMONG FRESH GRADUATES IN SELANGOR

Transitions from education to work caused work stress, affecting the fresh graduate’s working motivation. Work stress is caused by a variety of factors, including severe workloads, job conflict, and organisational climate. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine the impact of work stress levels on job motivation among fresh graduate employees in Selangor. This quantitative research utilised the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) and Motivation at Work Scale (MAWS) inventory to measure work stress level and job motivation among the targeted population. In conducting this research, the 127 respondents were recruited through purposive sampling based on the specific criteria set. The acquired data has been analysed using SPSS version 27 for both descriptive and inferential analysis. Using linear regression analysis, the results showed a statistically weak positive relationship between work stress and job motivation among fresh graduate employees in Selangor. Hence, there is a meaningful impact of work stress on job motivation among fresh graduates in Selangor. Examining the relationship between work stress and job motivation among fresh graduates provides valuable insights into enhancing well-being and job satisfaction upon entering the workforce.