Trend of Employee Engagement Research in Human Resource Management: A Content Analysis of Work-Life Balance and Leadership Studies
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
Abstract
Employee engagement has become a central concept in Human Resource Management (HRM) research due to its role in enhancing employee performance and organizational sustainability. This study employed a content analysis approach to review research trends related to employee engagement, particularly those examining work-life balance and leadership perspectives. A total of 50 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2025 were analyzed based on research design, antecedent variables, organizational context, theoretical frameworks, and methodological approaches. The findings indicate a significant increase in employee engagement research in recent years, with quantitative cross-sectional designs dominating the literature. Work-life balance and servant leadership emerged as the most frequently examined antecedents of employee engagement, while employee performance remained the primary outcome variable. Job Demands–Resources (JD–R) Theory was identified as the dominant theoretical framework. Based on the findings, this study proposes methodological and contextual recommendations for future employee engagement research.
Downloads
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Barlow, R. et al. 1966. Economics Beh Abadi, Y. A. F., & Antonio, T. (2024). Fostering employee engagement through organizational
climate and reward systems: Exploring the mediating role of work-life balance and employee satisfaction among millennial employees
in the property industry. Dinasti International Journal of Education Management and Social Science (DIJEMSS), 5 (5), 1455-1473. https://doi.org/10.38035/dijemss.v5i5.2807
Abdullah, M., Mutalib, S. K. M. S. A., & Azman, M. (2025). Understanding employee engagement: A proposed framework for employees at multinational corporations (mncs) in malaysia. International journal of research and innovation in social science, VIII (XII), 1764-1777. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.8120150
Ahmed, S., Ashrafi, D. M., Ahmed, R., Ahmed, E., & Azim, M. (2024). How employee engagement mediates the training and development and work–life balance towards job performance of the private banks?. The Tqm Journalnull, . https://doi.org/10.1108/tqm-10-2023-0316
AlKassem, A., Momani, H. R., Assad, N. F., Alzghoul, A., & Bayoumy, M. (2025). Work-life balance and its impact on employee
performance: Hr strategies for success. International journal of innovative research and scientific studies, 8 (5), 646-657. https://doi.org/10.53894/ijirss.v8i5.8807
Ambalika, N. K. A. D., Azzahra, H. A. S., Rahmayanti, P. L. D., & Ditha, I. G. A. T. L. (2024). The effect of work-life balance, internal communication, and rewards on employee engagement and employee performance: A study on generation z. International Journal of
Business, Law, and Education, 5 (2), 1646-1654. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i2.703
Anandita, S., Gunawan, A., & Febriyansyah, H. (2025). Exploring gen z engagement: Work–life balance and flexibility in creative programming work. Journal of Educational Management Research, 4 (4), 1494-1503. https://doi.org/10.61987/jemr.v4i4.1128
Bajpai, D. A., & Kulkarni, A. (2024). Revisiting hr for hybrid workplaces. ShodhKosh Journal of Visual and Performing Arts, 5 (6), .
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v5.i6.2024.3198
Chairunnisa, Aji, F., & Wijaya, A. N. (2023). Employee engagement: A literature review. Jurnal Pemikiran dan Penelitian Psikologinull, .
https://doi.org/10.32734/psikologia.v18i2.12190
Chaniago, P. A., & Rahmawati, S. (2024). Pengaruh work-life balance terhadap employee engagement pada pegawai biro sumber daya
manusia kementerian keuangan ri. Journal of management : small and medium enterprises (SMEs), 17 (3), 961-975.
https://doi.org/10.35508/jom.v17i3.17192
Damanik, P. N. S. (2025). Work-life balance: An inhibiting or supporting employee engagement on performance?. Journal Of Management Analytical and Solution (JoMAS), 5 (2), 49-57. https://doi.org/10.32734/jomas.v5i2.20561
Dordunoo, L. (2025). Developing strategy for employee engagement. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-5686-0.ch007
Dutta, R. (2025). Employee engagement and retention strategies: A comprehensive analysis of tech industry practices. Indian Scientific Journal Of Research In Engineering And Management, 09 (08), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsrem52010
Falasifa, T., Arfani, A. A. D., & Abdillah, M. (2025). Strategi manajemen sumber daya manusia dalam meningkatkan employee engagement: Kajian sistematis literatur. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business, 4 (2), 6546-6552. https://doi.org/10.31004/riggs.v4i2.1726
Fathima, A. M. (2025). Impact of work life balance on employee engagement and productivity in chennai it sector. Journal of Information
Systems Engineering and Management, 10 (34s), 1138-1162. https://doi.org/10.52783/jisem.v10i34s.6300
Gaur, D. A., & Gupta, M. D. (2024). Enhancing employee engagement: Unveiling the impact of quality of work-life balance and corporate
culture through literature review. International Journal For Multidisciplinary Researchnull, .
https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i02.16810
Goyal, R., Sheoran, N., & Sharma, H. (2024). Resilience! An intensifier for servant leadership? An employee engagement perspective.
Evidence-based HRMnull, . https://doi.org/10.1108/ebhrm-05-2023-0101
Haar, J. M., Brougham, D., Roche, M., & Barney, A. (2017). Servant leadership and work engagement: The mediating role of work-life
balance.
Haritha, P., & Murthy, M. (2024). An analysis on optimizing worklife balance programmes and enhancing employee satisfaction in hr
initiatives at edlernity, vidyaranyapura. Indian Scientific Journal Of Research In Engineering And Management, 08 (12), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsrem40187
Indajang, K., Andronicus, M., Sembiring, L. D., Ambarita, M. H., & Sudirman, A. (2024). Employee engagement in the creative industry sector of north sumatra: Analyzing work-life balance stimulants and perceived organizational support. International Journal of Business,
Law, and Educationnull, . https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i2.912
Jasmine, J., & Utomo, P. (2024). The role of transformational leadership, work-life balance, and employee engagement on gen z’s organizational commitment in the indonesian creative industry. Problems and perspectives in management, 22 (4), 576-587. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.22(4).2024.43
Katili, P. B., Wibowo, W., & Akbar, M. (2021). The effects of leaderships styles, work-life balance, and employee engagement on employee performance. https://doi.org/10.35877/454RI.QEMS319
Khan, A. A., Qaiser, A., Bashir, M. A., & Manzoor, A. K. S. (2025). Work-life balance in the digital economy: Analyzing the impact of flexible work policies on employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. https://doi.org/10.63056/acad.004.02.0181
Lakhani, P., Roy, P., Koner, S., Nair, D., Patil, R. D., Sinha, M., & Vidyapeeth, B. (2024). Exploring the influence of work-life balance on
employee engagement in mumbai’s real estate industry. THE SCIENTIFIC TEMPERnull, .
https://doi.org/10.58414/scientifictemper.2024.15.1.19
Lim, P. H., & Zawawi, D. (2024). Nurturing work engagement: Unravelling the impact of servant leadership, employee emotional intelligence, and work-family conflict. International journal of economics and management/International Journal of Economics and
Management, 18 (3), 373-390. https://doi.org/10.47836/ijeam.18.3.06
Loo, L. (2025). Beyond balance: Why work-life harmony redefines success in the malaysian modern workplace. RA journal of applied researchnull, . https://doi.org/10.47191/rajar/v11i9.05
Luturlean, B. S., Witjara, E., Prasetio, A. P., & Adhanissa, S. (2020). Managing human resources management policies in a private hospital
and its impact on work-life balance and employee engagement. Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen, 11 (2), 216-227. https://doi.org/10.15294/JDM.V11I2.23499
Martina, M., & Kumar, D. (2024). Navigating the digital maze: Enhancing employee motivation and work-life balance in chennai's it industry. https://doi.org/10.53555/kuey.v30i5.4902
Mashaba, N., & Botha, D. (2024). Employee engagement among women in technical positions in the south africa mining industry. Journal of The South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgynull, . https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2269/2023
Maula, I. M., Nabila, M., Lestari, A., & Anwar, S. (2025). Hybrid working and work-family balance: New challenges for hr managers in southeast asia. https://doi.org/10.59261/jvdi.v2i1.10
Nwibere, B. (2024). Work-life balance strategies and employees’ engagement in the food and beverage industry in rivers state. https://doi.org/10.47909/dtr.19
Okai, E. S., Boateng, P. A., Akonor, E. F., & Owusu, J. (2025). Servant leadership and strategic employee engagement: Incarnational leadership for enhanced workforce commitment. International journal of research and innovation in social science, IX (IV), 2141-2151. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2025.90400161
Rani, J., Raman, M. S., & Kavya, K. M. (2025). Employee engagement in the digital age: Strategies for building a motivated workforce. NPRC Journal of Multidisciplinary Research., 2 (3), 121-128. https://doi.org/10.3126/nprcjmr.v2i3.76963
Rani, J., Raman, M. S., & Kavya, K. M. (2025). Employee engagement in the digital age: Strategies for building a motivated workforce. NPRC Journal of Multidisciplinary Research., 2 (6), 232-239. https://doi.org/10.3126/nprcjmr.v2i6.80950
Ranjan, R. (2025). Analysis of employee engagement and work life balance impact on employee productivity at hirezy hr solution. Indian Scientific Journal Of Research In Engineering And Management, 09 (06), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.55041/ijsrem50603
Rohmawan, R., Suharto, S., & Syafii, M. (2025). The hybrid work model and its impact on employee engagement: A literature review study on the millennial generation. Brilliant International Journal of Management and Tourism, 5 (2), 106-114. https://doi.org/10.55606/bijmt.v5i2.4454
Saputra, N., Mastarida, F., Ratnasari, E. D., & Smith, E. L. (2024). Impact of ict and servant leadership on holistic work engagement in the hotel industry. https://doi.org/10.1109/iccit62134.2024.10701124
Setyaningrum, R. P., Said, J. M., & Soelistya, D. (2023). Leadership role and employee intention to stay: New evidence from healthcare sector in emerging economies. Jurnal aplikasi manajemen, 21 (1), . https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jam.2023.021.1.08
Setyawan, E. J., & Sadana, S. M. (2025). Analisis employee engagement pada pt xyz: Investigasi peran flexible working arrangement, perceived organizational support, work-life balance, dan job satisfaction. Jurnal Impresi Indonesia, 4 (5), 1819-1837. https://doi.org/10.58344/jii.v4i5.6691
Shofiyatunnisa, F. (2025). Effects of work-life balance and work environment on employee engagement among generation z in private companies. Journal Research of Social Science, Economics, and Management, 5 (2), 2962-2970. https://doi.org/10.59141/jrssem.v5i2.1011
Shrivastava, P., & Mehta, D. (2025). “employee engagement: Recent trends” (with special reference to organized retail sector). International journal of research and innovation in applied science, X (VII), 502-511. https://doi.org/10.51584/ijrias.2025.100700046
Shrivastava, S. (2025). Enhancing job satisfaction and retention in it companies through hr analytics-driven employee engagement. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5088656
Siregar, T. P., Nasution, H., & Absah, Y. (2022). Analysis of the effect of work-life balance on employee engagement employees pt. Xyz. International journal of research and review, 9 (7), 327-336. https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20220737
Surianto, S., Badaruddin, B., & Firman, A. (2024). Human resource management strategies to increase adaptability in the digital age. https://doi.org/10.37476/presed.v2i1.56
Sushmitha, B. H., & Murthy, Y. S. (2025). Enhancing employee engagement: Key drivers and their impact on workplace morale and productivity. EPRA international journal of economics, business and managementnull, 160-172. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra20339
Trifan, V. A., & Pantea, M. F. (2024). Shifting priorities and expectations in the new world of work. Insights from millennials and generation z. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 25 (5), 1075-1096. https://doi.org/10.3846/jbem.2024.22469
Triningsih, N. N., & Darma, G. S. (2023). Compensation, worklife balance, employee engagement, and turnover intention. Quantitative Economics and Management Studiesnull, . https://doi.org/10.35877/454ri.qems2158
Vadlmaudi, P. N. B. N. K., & Rafi, D. (2025). Sustainable hrm practices and their impact on employee engagement: Evidence from the pharmaceutical industry in hyderabad. European Economics Letters, 15 (3), 2041-2053. https://doi.org/10.52783/eel.v15i3.3627
Verawati, E., Sunaryo, W., & Herdiyana (n.d.). Improving employee engagement through organizational culture and servant leadership with commitment towards the organization as an intervening variable on employees of a private hospital in bogor regency. https://doi.org/10.31538/iijse.v8i1.5772
Westover, J. (2024). The influence of ethical leadership on employee engagement: Analyzing the role of work-life balance as a mediating variable. Human capital leadership., 16 (3), . https://doi.org/10.70175/hclreview.2020.16.3.6
Work–life balance, technological support, and team collaboration as predictors of job satisfaction and employee engagement in it sector. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9 (3), . https://doi.org/10.64388/irev9i3-1710937-4488avior of the Affluent. Washington D.C.: The Brooking Institution.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.