The Relationship Between Job Crafting and Intention to Leave: A Literature Review Study

Jinbei Li; Mohd Anuar bin Arshad; Luo Guoyu

This paper integrates data from various databases via a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to thoroughly examine the relationship between job crafting and employees’ intentions to leave. The research highlights that employees are an essential competitive asset for organizations, significantly contributing to their development and success. Given the intense competition in today's market, talent retention is a major challenge for many global enterprises. Thus, understanding and managing employee intentions to leave is of paramount importance. Job crafting, characterized as an employee-led method for redesigning work, has attracted substantial attention in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior studies. Studies show that, unlike traditional static job designs, job crafting empowers employees to shift from being passive recipients to becoming proactive participants. By engaging in self-directed and value-driven career management, employees are encouraged to tailor their job content to meet personal needs, which enhances job satisfaction, well-being, and engagement. This leads to improved individual and organizational performance, resulting in mutual benefits. Moreover, the findings suggest that job crafting serves as a key indicator of employee turnover intentions. Hence, encouraging employee involvement in job crafting can effectively lower turnover rates and significantly impact management practices. It offers a strategic approach to fostering employees' commitment to staying within the organization.

Aburumman, O., Salleh, A., Omar, K., & Abadi, M. (2020). The impact of human resource management practices and career satisfaction on employee’s turnover intention. Management Science Letters, 10(3), 641–652.
Bindl, U. K., Unsworth, K. L., Gibson, C. B., & Stride, C. B. (2019). Job Crafting Revisited: Implications of an Extended Framework for Active Changes at Work. Journal of Applied Psychology, 104(5), 605–628. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000362
Bruning, P. F., & Campion, M. A. (2018). A Role–resource Approach–avoidance Model of Job Crafting: A Multimethod Integration and Extension of Job Crafting Theory. Academy of Management Journal, 61(2), 499–522. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2015.0604
Climek, M., Henry, R., & Jeong, S. (2022). Integrative Literature Review on Employee Turnover Antecedents Across Different Generations: Commonalities and Uniqueness. European Journal of Training and Development, 48(1/2). https://doi.org/10.1108/ejtd-05-2021-0058
Dangelico, R. M., & Vocalelli, D. (2017). “Green marketing”: An analysis of definitions, strategy steps, and tools through a systematic review of the literature. Journal of Cleaner Production, 165(1), 1263–1279. Sciencedirect.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.184
Dong, T., Wen, J., Kang, M., & He, L. (2021). An Empirical Study on the Effects of Job Crafting on Job Involvement and Turnover Intention. Frontiers of Management, 3(3), 183–197. https://doi.org/10.35534/fm.0303015
Gan, W., & Xu, X. (2018). Organizational Support?Social Capital and Second-generation of Migrant Workers’ Turnover Intention. Journal of Management Science, 31(01), 78–89.
Grant, A. M., & Ashford, S. J. (2008). The dynamics of proactivity at work. Research in Organizational Behavior, 28, 3–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2008.04.002
Hommelhoff, S., Weseler, D., & Niessen, C. (2021). The Role of Cognitive Job Crafting in the Relationship Between Turnover Intentions, Negative Affect, and Task Mastery. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 34(6), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2021.1892653
Huang, L., & Zang, Y. (2023). A review of the research on employee turnover behavior ——based on the theory of near retreat. Journal of Hubei University of Education, 40(04), 63–68. CNKI.
Igbaria, M., & Greenhaus, J. H. (1992). Determinants of MIS employees’ turnover intentions. Communications of the ACM, 35(2), 34–49. https://doi.org/10.1145/129630.129631
Kulik, C. T., Oldham, G. R., & Hackman, J. Richard. (1987). Work Sesign as an Approach to Person-environment Fit. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 31(3), 278–296.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-8791(87)90044-3
Kumar, S. (2021). The impact of talent management practices on employee turnover and retention intentions. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 41(2), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.22130
Lacity, M. C., Iyer, V. V., & Rudramuniyaiah, P. S. (2008). Turnover intentions of Indian IS professionals. Information Systems Frontiers, 10(2), 225–241.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-007-9062-3
Lazzari, M., Alvarez, J. M., & Ruggieri, S. (2022). Predicting and explaining employee turnover intention. International Journal of Data Science and Analytics, 14(3), 279–292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41060-022-00329-w
Lin, Q., Jiang, C., & Lam, T. H. (2013). The Relationship between Occupational Stress, Burnout, and Turnover Intention among Managerial Staff from a Sino?Japanese Joint Venture in Guangzhou, China. Journal of Occupational Health, 55(6), 458–467.
https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.12-0287-oa
Ling, W., Fang, L., & Fu, Y. (2005). The study on the effecting factors and the accommodating factors of Chinese enterprises employees turnover intention. Journal of Xiangtan University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) , 29(04), 65–69.
https://doi.org/10.13715/j.cnki.jxupss.2005.04.011
Lin, Y., & Zhao, S. (2014). The Empirical Research on the Relationship of Optimism and Turnover Intention-Testing the Moderating Roles of LMX and POS. Soft Science, 28(04), 62–65. https://doi.org/10.13956/j.ss.2014.04.014
Ling, W., Zhang, Z., & Fang, L. (2000). The Research on the Structure Model of Chinese Employee’s Organizational Commitment. JOURNAL of MANAGEMENT SCIENCES in CHINA, 3(02).
Llorente-Alonso, M., & Topa, G. (2019). Individual Crafting, Collaborative Crafting, and Job Satisfaction: The Mediator Role of Engagement. Revista de Psicología Del Trabajo Y de Las Organizaciones, 35(3), 217–226. https://doi.org/10.5093/jwop2019a23
Lu, C., Wang, H., Lu, J., Du, D., & Bakker, A. B. (2014). Does work engagement increase person–job fit? The role of job crafting and job insecurity. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 84(2), 142–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2013.12.004
M. Ikhwan Maulana Haeruddin, Uhud Darmawan Natsir, Nurul Aswar, Annisa Paramaswary Aslam, & Salam, R. (2023). Here Comes the Sun: Green hrm Implementation Toward SME’s Sustainability in Tourism Industry. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(4), e01227–e01227. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i4.1227
Miller, H. E., Katerberg, R., & Hulin, C. L. (1979). Evaluation of the mobley, horner, and hollingsworth model of employee turnover. Journal of Applied Psychology, 64(5), 509–517. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.64.5.509
Mirzaei, A., Rezakhani Moghaddam, H., & Habibi Soola, A. (2021). Identifying the Predictors of Turnover Intention Based on Psychosocial Factors of Nurses During the COVID?19 Outbreak. Nursing Open, 8(6), 3469–3476. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.896
Mobley, W. H. (1977). Intermediate linkages in the relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover. Journal of Applied Psychology, 62(2), 237–240. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.62.2.237
Mulki, J. P., Jaramillo, J. F., & Locander, W. B. (2007). Effect of Ethical Climate on Turnover Intention: Linking Attitudinal- and Stress Theory. Journal of Business Ethics, 78(4), 559–574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9368-6
Oprea, B., P?duraru, L., & Iliescu, D. (2020). Job crafting and intent to leave: The mediating role of meaningful work and engagement. Journal of Career Development, 49(1), 089484532091866. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845320918666
Paul, J., Lim, W. M., O’Cass, A., Hao, A. W., & Bresciani, S. (2021). Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR?4?SLR). International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(4). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijcs.12695
Porter, L. W., & Steers, R. M. (1973). Organizational, work, and personal factors in employee turnover and absenteeism. Psychological Bulletin, 80(2), 151–176. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0034829
Qin, D., Cao, L., Shi, Y., Hu, Q., & Li, G. (2020). Career Competencies, Job Crafting and Innovation behavior: insights from yin-yang harmony cognition. Foreign Economics & Management , 42(11), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20200916.101.
Romeo, M., Yepes-Baldó, M., & Lins, C. (2020). Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention Among People With Disabilities Working in Special Employment Centers: The Moderation Effect of Organizational Commitment. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
= https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01035
Rudolph, C. W., Katz, I. M., Lavigne, K. N., & Zacher, H. (2017). Job crafting: A meta-analysis of relationships with individual differences, job characteristics, and work outcomes. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 102(1), 112–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2017.05.008
Shore, L. M., & Barksdale, K. (1998). Examining degree of balance and level of obligation in the employment relationship: A social exchange approach. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 19(S1), 731–744. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1379(1998)19:1+%3C731::AID-JOB969%3E3.0.CO;2-P
SHI, Y., XIE, J., WANG, Y., & ZHAGN, N. (2023). Digital Job Crafting and Its Positive Impact on Job Performance: The Perspective of Individual-Task-Technology Fit. Advances in Psychological Science, 31(7), 1133. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1042.2023.01133
Somers, M. J. (1996). Modelling employee withdrawal behaviour over time: A study of turnover using survival analysis. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 69(4), 315–326. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8325.1996.tb00618.x
Strümpfer, D. J. W. (2006). Positive Emotions, Positive Emotionality and Their Contribution to Fortigenic Living: A Review. South African Journal of Psychology, 36(1), 144–167. https://doi.org/10.1177/008124630603600109
Sun, R., & Du, P. (2023). The effect of rural teachers?job crafting on career commitment and its mechanism. Educational Research and Experiment, 02, 92–101.
Suraihi, W. A. A., Samikon, S. A., Suraihi, A.-H. A. A., & Ibrahim, I. (2021). Employee turnover: Causes, importance and retention strategies. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 6(3), 1–10. Researchgate.
https://doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2021.6.3.893
Tims, M., & Bakker, A. B. (2010). Job Crafting: Towards a New Model of Individual Job Redesign. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 36(2). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v36i2.841
Tims, M., Bakker, A. B., & Derks, D. (2012). Development and Validation of the Job Crafting Scale. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 80(1), 173–186.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2011.05.009
Tranfield, D., Denyer, D., & Smart, P. (2003). Towards a Methodology for Developing Evidence-Informed Management Knowledge by Means of Systematic Review. British Journal of Management, 14(3), 207–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00375
Tuan, L. T., Rajendran, D., Rowley, C., & Khai, D. C. (2019). Customer value co-creation in the business-to-business tourism context: The roles of corporate social responsibility and customer empowering behaviors. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 39(1), 137–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2019.04.002
Wang, Q. (2022). Research on job crafting from the perspective of sustainable career: Motivation, paths and intervention mechanisms. Advances in Psychological Science, 30(3), 499. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1042.2022.00499
Vermooten, N., Boonzaier, B., & Kidd, M. (2019). Job crafting, proactive personality and meaningful work: Implications for employee engagement and turnover intention. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 45(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/sajip.v45i0.1567
Wang, Q. (2022). Research on job crafting from the perspective of sustainable career: Motivation, paths and intervention mechanisms. Advances in Psychological Science, 30(3), 499. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1042.2022.00499
Wrzesniewski, A., & Dutton, J. E. (2001). Crafting a Job: Revisioning Employees as Active Crafters of Their Work. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 179–201. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2001.4378011
Xiao, Y., & Ke Junqun. (2020). New progress in job design theory: Literature review of job crafting. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 427. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200331.058
Wrzesniewski, A., LoBuglio, N., Dutton, J. E., & Berg, J. M. (2013). Job Crafting and Cultivating Positive Meaning and Identity in Work. In Advances in Positive Organizational Psychology (pp. 281–302). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/s2046-410x(2013)0000001015
Wu, X. (2023). Research on the influence of job matching on turnover intention of enterprise employees. Journal of Mudanjiang Normal University( Social Sciences Edition), 238(06), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.13815/j.cnki.jmtc(pss).2023.06.004
Xin, X., & Miao, R. (2018). The Influential Mechanism of Employees’Job Crafting on Creative Performance: A Moderated Double-Mediation Model. Economic Management Journal, 40(05), 108–122. https://doi.org/10.19616/j.cnki.bmj.2018.05.007
Zhang, B., & Wang, L. (2024). The “new gig” job crafting, its antecedents and consequences. Business & Economy, 576(8). https://doi.org/10.19905/j.cnki.syjj1982.2024.08.027
Zhang, T., & Li, B. (2020). Job crafting and turnover intention: The mediating role of work engagement and job satisfaction. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 48(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.8759

Jinbei, L., Arshad, M. A., & Guoyu, L. (2025). The Relationship Between Job Crafting and Intention to Leave: A Literature Review Study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(1), 889–900.

Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

The Relationship Between Job Crafting and Intention to Leave: A Literature Review Study

Jinbei Li, Mohd Anuar bin Arshad, Luo Guoyu

Further Information

Our Journals

Get intouch with us