A systematic scoping review on definitions, models, measures, and related constructs of sustainable careers

Abstract This review aims to synthesise the current understanding of sustainable careers by exploring definitions, models, measures, and related constructs, addressing the multidimensional nature of the topic and highlighting areas for further research. Following PRISMA guidelines and the SPIDER framework, initially, 1424 articles from Scopus and 1439 from Web of Science were identified. After selection and quality assessment based on JBI guidelines, 93 articles were chosen for data extraction. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) method was used to uncover topics related to sustainable careers. The review identifies over 40 definitions of sustainable careers and several models, which are categorized into four main themes: (a) health and balance between resources and demands; (b) personal satisfaction and growth; (c) contextual and social integration; d) productivity and career longevity. Following, this study proposes a comprehensive definition of sustainable careers, stressing the need for studying how sustainable careers impact community contexts rather than just individuals. It calls for an integrated approach blending theoretical insights with empirical rigor, particularly in defining sample characteristics and research context, and for future longitudinal research on societal and economic factors. Several individual and contextual factors are associated with sustainable careers, as revealed by the six distinct topics. Overall, the review highlights community empowerment as an emerging dimension of career sustainability. This aligns with sustainability and social responsibility, encouraging organizations, practitioners and researchers to consider career sustainability as a communal responsibility, fostering societal change toward more socially responsible career practices aimed at community well-being.