The role of <i>ikigai</i> in enhancing job satisfaction and retention in the construction industry: job satisfaction as a mediator

Purpose Despite growing interest in ikigai across well-being and occupational studies, its application in construction remains largely unexplored. This study aims to explore the role of ikigai, a Japanese concept denoting purpose or reason for being, as a psychological mechanism influencing job satisfaction and employee retention intention within the construction industry. The study examines whether ikigai directly affects job retention and whether this relationship is mediated by job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research design was used, using standardized instruments including the Ikigai-9 scale, the Job Satisfaction Survey, and the Turnover Intention Scale. Data were collected from 138 construction professionals in Ghana through a structured questionnaire. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling via SmartPLS was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships and test the mediation effects. R software was also used for the endogeneity assessment. Findings The findings show that ikigai has a statistically significant positive effect on both job satisfaction (β = 0.613, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and job retention (β = 0.357, p = 0.002). Furthermore, job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between ikigai and retention (indirect effect β = 0.219, p = 0.005), indicating that employees who experience purpose and meaning in their work are more satisfied and less likely to consider leaving their jobs. Research limitations/implications This study contributes to the growing body of work linking psychological constructs to workforce outcomes in high-stress environments. The findings underscore the importance of cultivating purpose-driven work cultures to enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover in the construction sector. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is among the first to empirically investigate ikigai within the context of the construction industry.