The affective-motivational state of job engagement has been shown to differ between jobs
with different characteristics, but its possible links with workers’ personal attributes have less
often been studied. Engagement was predicted to be a primary function of personality factors
and sub-factors which match its affective and motivational elements, namely Emotional
Stability and more energized forms of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Predictions were
confirmed in correlational and regression analyses across three studies. Theoretical
frameworks in this area should extend to personal characteristics in addition to covering job
content, and practical benefits can follow from engagement-relevant staff selection and
development as well as from appropriate job design.