Unique insights: the mediating role of learned helplessness on the influence of perceived dirty work on career transition intentions, and the moderating role of job crafting and career calling

Dirty work is shunned by all and is often associated with low status and low pay. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of employees' perceived dirty work on the mindsets and business performance of practitioners across various industries. A total of 989 validated questionnaires were collected. The results indicated that perceived dirty work has a positive effect on career transition intentions and can lead to career transition intentions through learned helplessness. However, job crafting and career calling negatively moderate all three relationships. Existing studies have explored the effects of job satisfaction and occupational identity on career transition intentions, but have predominantly focused on general occupational groups and less on practitioners of stigmatised occupations, thereby broadening theories related to stigmatised occupations and perceptions of dirty work.