Effect of Workforce Diversity on Employee Engagement at Kenya School of Government

Abstract

The relationship between workforce diversity and employee engagement has been a topic of much academic discussion. Workforce diversity can influence employee engagement, which pertains to a distinct set of behaviors shown by individuals in the workplace. The current research hypothesized that workforce diversity, as assessed by factors such as education, age, experience, gender, and ethnicity, influences employee engagement in several aspects, including physical, cognitive, and emotional dimensions. As a result, the research objective was to assess workforce diversity's influence on employee engagement within KSG. The study was based on social identification theory. A mixed research design that entailed qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied. Stratified sampling techniques were used where study population was categorized based on the KSG Directorates. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. The study findings indicated that the gender composition at KSG had a balanced distribution. A wide range of age clusters were determined to be part of KSG employees, with most personnel falling within the 36 to 45 age range. Additionally, the study's findings revealed a wide range of academic backgrounds. Conversely, it is essential to note that there existed notable disparities in ethnic representation, as a single ethnic group accounted for around one-third of the total workforce. However, the regression analysis yielded significant findings suggesting a positive relationship between ethnic diversity and levels of employee engagement. The significance of having individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the workplace was discovered to be essential in cultivating an environment that promotes employee engagement. Importantly, the study offers the following recommendations to enhance workforce diversity and employee engagement; prioritizing ethnic diversity, given that about one-third of its workforce comprises individuals from a single ethnic group; fostering educational diversity through considering a wide array of educational backgrounds; implementing staff training and development initiatives that specifically target the improvement of educational diversity among its staff; formation of Knowledge Sharing Groups that should actively foster a culture of learning; and formulation of a comprehensive diversity and inclusion plan that specifically targets the aspect of ethnic diversity. The study proposes further research on the "Effects of Leadership Styles on Employee Engagement." This will contribute to comprehending how various leadership styles impact employee engagement. Furthermore, the research proposes a further study on the "Impact of Staff Motivation on Employee Engagement". This study will help to explore the relationship between staff incentives and employee engagement.