Job satisfaction and turnover intention among preschool teachers in Klang Valley

Wong, Jack Lee (2025) Job satisfaction and turnover intention among preschool teachers in Klang Valley. Final Year Project, UTAR.

PDF Download (1240Kb)

Abstract

The profession of early childhood education (ECE) teaching is both physically and emotionally demanding, which often leads to high turnover rates among preschool teachers. This issue highlights the critical role of job satisfaction in sustaining a stable and effective workforce. In Malaysia, particularly in the Klang Valley, the potential relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention among preschool teachers has received limited empirical attention, despite its significant implications for workforce stability and the quality of early education. Guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, this study investigated the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention among preschool teachers in Klang Valley. A quantitative correlational research design was employed, and data were collected through structured questionnaires using the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) and the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6). A total of 82 preschool teachers participated in the study and jamovi was used for data analysis. The findings revealed a strong and significant negative correlation between job satisfaction and turnover intention (r = –0.714, p < .001), confirming that higher job satisfaction is associated with a lower intention to leave the profession. These results are consistent with both local and international literature, emphasizing that factors such as salary, workload, recognition, and professional growth opportunities play pivotal roles in shaping teachers’ intentions to remain in or exit the field. The study underscores the importance for preschool administrators and policymakers to enhance teachers’ job satisfaction as a strategic measure to reduce attrition and improve educational quality. Limitations such as the reliance on online surveys and a relatively small sample size suggest that future research should adopt larger and more representative sampling, alongside physical survey methods, to improve reliability and depth of insights. Keywords: Job Satisfaction, Turnover Intention, Preschool Teachers, Klang Valley

Actions (login required)