Public service motivation of public- versus private-sector employees in a Chinese context

To investigate the public service motivation (PSM) of public- and private-sector employees in a Chinese context, comparative studies were conducted with 2 independent samples. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analysis was implemented to assess the level of PSM in 250 public employees. In Study 2, 247 respondents from private companies were evaluated. Results gained in these studies not only provided evidence supporting the construct validity of this measure of PSM in a Chinese context, but also demonstrated that, comparatively, public-sector employees’ levels of PSM were relatively higher than those of private-sector employees, especially in relation to the attraction to public policymaking and commitment to public interest dimensions of PSM.