Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction Among IT Industry Employees in Chengdu, China: Enhancing Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory with Commute Distance

As China’s digital economy rapidly expands, understanding job satisfaction among IT professionals is increasingly critical. This study examines the influence of hygiene factors, motivator factors, and commute distance on job satisfaction in Chengdu’s IT sector, extending Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory by incorporating commuting as an external variable. A quantitative approach was employed using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from 520 IT employees via convenience sampling, and analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that both hygiene and motivator factors significantly enhance job satisfaction, while commute distance has a negative impact. These findings highlight the need for organizations and policymakers to address both internal workplace dynamics and external environmental stressors. The study contributes to theoretical development by integrating commuter-related variables into job satisfaction models and offers practical insights for HR strategies, urban planning, and sustainable workforce management in China’s high-tech industries.