Exploring Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction and Profession Loyalty of Fishermen in Bengkulu Province: Structural Equation Model

Bengkulu fishermen face intense challenges mainly caused by climate change, which influences their livelihood. On the other side, there are government policies and social capital that could help and protect them in pursuing a better life. This study aimed to analyze fishermen's job satisfaction and loyalty and identify factors affecting them in Bengkulu Province. A Structural Equation Model (SEM) was proposed, which shows the relationship between the perception of climate change, government policy, and social capital on job satisfaction and loyalty of fishermen. Research samples consisted of 350 fishermen who live in seven central fishing locations along the coast of Bengkulu Province. The result showed that even though almost 54.1 percent of fishermen are satisfied with their jobs, only 16.2 percent are loyal to their profession. Furthermore, about 75.4 percent of fishermen would not advise their sons to continue their jobs. The research result model shows that job satisfaction is directly influenced by the perception of climate change and social capital, whereas government policy is not. The model also indicates that fishermen's loyalty is directly influenced by their perception of climate change, government policy, and job satisfaction. Furthermore, the loyalty of fishermen to their profession is indirectly influenced by climate change and social capital. In encouraging fishermen's job satisfaction and loyalty, some government policies could be implemented, including increasing fishermen's understanding of climate change by the existing program, fishermen empowerment by developing institutions, social norms, and formal regulations, and providing low credit funding for a bigger fishing boat, a more robust machine, and new fishing gear.