Does Public Service Motivation Affect the Occupation Choices of Public Employees?

This study explored the connection between public service motivation (PSM) and the occupation choices of employees in public organizations. Specifically, it focused on understanding whether high levels of PSM lead individuals into public service occupations verse non-public service occupations in public organizations. Using a random sample of respondents from three public organizations in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Oregon, this study found that PSM was not a predictor of the occupation choices of public employees. Individuals with high levels of PSM were no more likely to be present in public service work than non-public service work. However, this study found that education level and gender were the best determinates of the occupation choices of public employees. The implications of this study are discussed.