Trends and Insights in Work Engagement Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction/Main Objectives: Work engagement is an important concept in human resource management that is closely related to employee productivity and job satisfaction, yet the research still leaves gaps in the understanding of global trends and collaboration among researchers. This study aims to map publication trends, major themes, and significant contributions from authors and institutions related to work engagement using a bibliometric approach. Background Problems: Previous studies emphasize leadership, organizational culture, and job resources as key factors in work engagement, with transformational leadership being a positive contributor, but gaps remain in understanding their interplay, especially in non-Western contexts, specific industries, and areas like digital transformation, gender dynamics, and alternative leadership styles. Novelty: This study provides a bibliometric analysis that highlights global collaboration, key topics such as digital transformation and the impact of COVID-19 on work engagement, and offers practical insights to help academics and practitioners improve employee engagement strategies. Research Methods: Data were analyzed from 1,626 articles in the Scopus database published in 1984-2024, with the help of VOSviewer software to analyze keywords, collaboration patterns, and geographical distribution. Finding/Results: The results show a significant increase in the number of publications since 2010, with themes such as transformational leadership and psychological empowerment being the main concerns, and the impact of the pandemic and digital technology on work engagement as the latest issues. This research makes an important contribution in identifying unexplored research areas, as well as providing guidance for academics and practitioners in designing strategies to improve employee engagement in an era of dynamic change.