The Effect of Employee Retention Strategies in Mitigating Employees Turnover in Ethiopian Public Sector

Authors

  • Warkaw Legesse Abate Ethiopian Public Service University
  • Semira Hassen Ethiopian Public Service University
  • Adinew Desale Ethiopian Public Service University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63990/2026ajoldvol11iss1pp101-126

Keywords:

Employee, Public sector, Retention strategies, Turnover

Abstract

In today’s world the type of retention strategies is the main reason of high turnover rate in the public sector. Employees always are looking for a better opportunity, better compensation, better working condition and succession in the organizations. Therefore, it is the responsibility of organizations that they maintain these employees through better retention strategies is vibrant. The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of staff retention strategies in mitigating employee turnover in public sector of Ethiopia. This study employed explanatory designed and quantitative approach. Primary data were gathered from 1,139 randomly selected public sector employees. Quantitative data were analyzed using a descriptive and inferential statistics was using SPSS software. The finding revealed that all independent variables have a positive and statistically significant relationship with dependent variables includes improvement in training and development, psychological needs, reward and recognition, and organizational justice were related with reduced employee turnover or increased employee retention. Moreover, regression results psychological needs, training and development found that do not have a statistically significant effect on employee retention. On the other hand, the coefficient of reward and recognition and organizational justice is positive and substantial, with a p-value 0.000 and positively and significantly affect employee turnover. Therefore, the public sector could benefit from strategies that employee recognition and promote fairness and justice in organizational practices to effectively reduce the employee turnover. 

Author Biographies

Warkaw Legesse Abate, Ethiopian Public Service University

PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Development Management, College of Finance, Development and Management, Ethiopian Public Service University

Semira Hassen, Ethiopian Public Service University

PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Finance, College of Finance, Development and Management, Ethiopian Public Service University

Adinew Desale , Ethiopian Public Service University

MA in Public Management, Ethiopian Public Service University

References

Abbasi, S. M., & Hollman, K. W. (2000). Turnover: The real bottom line. Public Personnel Management, 29(3), 333–342.

Aggarwal, A., Jaisinghani, D., & Nobi, K. (2022). Effect of organizational justice and support on organizational commitment and employee turnover intentions: The mediating role of employee engagement. International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, 14(4), 525–554.

Al Mamun, C. A., & Hasan, M. N. (2017). Factors affecting employee turnover and sound retention strategies in business organizations: A conceptual view. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 15(1), 63–71.

Aliyu, O. A., & Nyadzayo, M. W. (2018). Reducing employee turnover intention: A customer relationship management perspective. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 26(3), 241–257.

Armstrong, M. (2006). A handbook of human resource management practice (10th ed.). Kogan Page.

Awang, Z., Ahmad, J. H., & Zin, N. M. (2010). Modelling job satisfaction and work commitment among lecturers: A case of UiTM Kelantan. Journal of Statistical Modeling and Analytics, 1(2), 45–59.

Azar, M., & Shafighi, A. A. (2013). The effect of work motivation on employees' job performance: A case study of employees of Isfahan Islamic Revolution Housing Foundation. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 3(9), 432–445.

Babatunde, F. T., & Onoja, E. D. (2023). The effectiveness of retention strategies on employee retention. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 13(1), 481–490.

Cappelli, P. (2000). A market-driven approach to retaining talent. Harvard Business Review, 78(1), 103–111.

Cook, K. S., Cheshire, C., Rice, E. R., & Nakagawa, S. (2013). Social exchange theory. In J. DeLamater & A. Ward (Eds.), Handbook of social psychology (pp. 61–88). Springer.

Dado, W. M., Mekonnen, W., Aragaw, M. D., Desta, B. F., & Desal, A. Y. (2019). Turnover intention of health workers in public-private mix partnership health facilities: A case of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Epidemiology: Open Access, 9(2), Article 374.

Deery, M. (2008). Talent management, work–life balance and retention strategies. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 20(7), 792–806.

Dereje, L. (2017). Factors affecting employee retention in Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Master's thesis).

Dibiku, M. G. (2023). How salary and supervision affect turnover intention through job satisfaction: The case of industrial zones located in Ethiopia. Journal of Human Resource Management, 26(1), 12–22.

Diliantari, K. R. D., & Dewi, I. G. A. M. (2019). Effect of training and compensation on employee performance mediated by job satisfaction. International Research Journal of Management, IT and Social Sciences, 6(6), 95–103.

Elsafty, A., & Oraby, M. (2022). The impact of training on employee retention: An empirical study of the private sector in Egypt. International Journal of Business and Management, 17(5), 58–74.

Enamala, J., & Reddy, J. M. (2022). Strategies for employee retention. International Journal of Health Sciences, 4586–4600.

Ferede, A., Kibret, G. D., Million, Y., Simeneh, M. M., Belay, Y. A., & Hailemariam, D. (2018). Magnitude of turnover intention and associated factors among health professionals working in public health institutions of North Shoa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. BioMed Research International, 2018, Article 3165379.

Gebrekidan, A. Y., Enaro, E. Y., Azeze, G., Adella, G. A., Kassie, G. A., Haile, K. E., & Asgedom, Y. S. (2023). Turnover intention among healthcare workers in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 13(5), e067266.

Girma, A. (2016). Factors influencing employee retention in public organizations in Ethiopia: The case of Addis Ababa institutions (Doctoral dissertation, St. Mary's University).

Girma, F., Worku, F., Alayu, M., & Bizuneh, H. (2021). Turnover intention among health professionals working at primary public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A facility-based cross-sectional study. Primary Health Care, 11(7), 1–9.

Idriss, A. A., Galoji, S. I., & Adamu, M. (2021). The impact of organizational justice on employee turnover intention. International Journal of Intellectual Discourse, 4(4), 1–8.

Igbinoba, E., Joel, O., Igbadumhe, F., & Peter, D. (2022). Employees' retention strategies and organizational performance. Academy of Entrepreneurship Journal, 28(5), 1–12.

Kebede, A. A. (2025). Investigating the influence of employee turnover intention on organizational performance: Evidence from Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda public sector.

Kumar, S. (2022). The impact of talent management practices on employee turnover and retention intentions. Global Business and Organizational Excellence, 41(2), 21–34.

Luo, Z., Ma, E., & Li, A. (2021). Driving frontline employees' performance through mentorship, training, and interpersonal helping: The case of upscale hotels in China. International Journal of Tourism Research, 23(5), 846–857.

Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, J. H. (2008). Human resource management (12th ed.). South-Western Cengage Learning.

Mengstie, M. M. (2020). Perceived organizational justice and turnover intention among hospital healthcare workers. BMC Psychology, 8(1), Article 19.

Mitchell, T. R., Holtom, B. C., & Lee, T. W. (2001). How to keep your best employees: Developing an effective retention policy. Academy of Management Executive, 15(4), 96–108.

Nigussie, M. (2019). The effects of staff retention strategies on employees' organizational commitment in private banks in Ethiopia: Evidence from Abyssinia Bank (Master's thesis).

Piotrowska, M. (2022). Job attributes affect the relationship between perceived overqualification and retention. Future Business Journal, 8(1), Article 38.

Price, M. (2024). Happy economics: Why the happiest workplaces are the most successful. Kogan Page.

Rajpurohit, S. (2024). Study on turnover and retention strategies: Identifying causes and implementing solutions. International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, 8(6), 1–5.

Samašonok, K. (2024). Employee turnover: Causes and retention strategies. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 11(3), 134–148.

Scott, J., Waite, S., & Reede, D. (2021). Voluntary employee turnover: A literature review and evidence-based, user-centered strategies to improve retention. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 18(3), 442–450.

Siddiqui, F. (2018). Impact of retention strategies on employee turnover: A case in point. Journal of Resources Development and Management, 42, 1–10.

Singh, D. (2019). A literature review on employee retention with focus on recent trends. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 6(1), 425–431.

Sulastiningtiyas, D., & Nilasari, B. M. (2018). The effect of leadership style, work environment, and organizational motivation on employee performance with job satisfaction as a mediating variable. Business and Entrepreneurial Review, 18(2), 93–114.

Urme, U. N. (2023). The impact of talent management strategies on employee retention. International Journal of Science and Business, 28(1), 127–146.

Wairimu Waiyaki, E. (2017). Effect of motivation on employee performance: A case of Pam Golding Properties Limited, Nairobi (Doctoral dissertation, United States International University–Africa).

Woldekiros, A. N., Getye, E., & Abdo, Z. A. (2022). Magnitude of job satisfaction and intention to leave the present job among nurses in selected federal hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE, 17(6), e0269540.

Wubetie, A., Taye, B., & Girma, B. (2020). Magnitude of turnover intention and associated factors among nurses working in emergency departments of governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross-sectional institutional-based study. BMC Nursing, 19(1), Article 97.

Yezina, T. (2014). Assessment of the impact of employee turnover on TVET institutions (Unpublished master's thesis, Addis Ababa University).

Zimamu, L. Y., & Wubet, G. M. (2021). Assessment of turnover intention and associated factors among health information technology professionals working in public health institutions in South Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Downloads

Published

2026-06-27

How to Cite

Abate, W. L., Hassen, S. ., & Desale , A. (2026). The Effect of Employee Retention Strategies in Mitigating Employees Turnover in Ethiopian Public Sector. African Journal of Leadership and Development, 11(1), 101–126. https://doi.org/10.63990/2026ajoldvol11iss1pp101-126

Issue

Section

Articles