Mapping the landscape of work engagement research

Purpose This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of work engagement research to uncover key trends, themes and gaps within the literature, contributing to a deeper understanding of its multifaceted nature and implications for fostering an engaged workforce. Design/methodology/approach The study utilises bibliometric analysis and visualisation methods, analysing 2,352 articles published between 2013 and 2023 and sourced from the Scopus database. The analysis incorporates co-citation, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence techniques using VOSviewer to map research trends and identify influential contributors, institutions and countries. Findings The findings reveal a growing interest in work engagement research, particularly post-2020, with China, the United States and the Netherlands leading in contributions. Key themes include leadership styles, job satisfaction, burnout and the role of psychological resources. The study highlights significant research gaps, such as the impact of abusive leadership and workaholism, and underscores the need for further exploration of subjective well-being in relation to work engagement. Originality/value This study addresses the lack of bibliometric analyses distinguishing work engagement from employee engagement. It offers a novel contribution by identifying emerging themes and under-researched areas, providing actionable insights for advancing academic and organisational practices in this field.