Decoding job embeddedness: a meta-analysis on consequences and unveiling moderating forces

Purpose In the evolving digital era, marked by the gig economy and remote work, the dynamics between individuals and their jobs have profound implications for employees' job embeddedness. This study provides an up-to-date and comprehensive meta-analysis of the effects of job embeddedness on work and non-work outcomes, thereby offering strategic insights into talent management during this new era of opportunities and challenges. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted using a dataset of 272 effect sizes derived from 250 articles (N = 111,592) to examine the relationships between job embeddedness and its outcomes. Meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) was employed to test the hypothesized mediating mechanisms. Findings The results reveal significant effects of job embeddedness on most work and non-work outcomes. Additionally, the study identifies key moderating factors that shape these relationships, highlighting variations based on cultural, demographic, and research design factors. Mediation tests further show that job satisfaction and job stress serve as critical pathways through which on-the-job and off-the-job embeddedness influence employee outcomes. Originality/value This study advances job embeddedness research by systematically integrating existing findings and resolving inconsistencies through meta-analysis. By differentiating the effects of on-the-job, off-the-job, and occupational embeddedness and uncovering moderating and mediating processes, it offers novel insights into the mechanisms underlying job embeddedness and its impact in the contemporary work landscape.