The Role of Job Crafting in Transforming Perceived Overqualification into Meaningful Work: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Haytham Gebril; Hamdy Elgebaly; Neama Elwakeel; Amr Noureldin; Mohamed Aboueldahab; ELsayed Saleh

doi:10.63332/joph.v5i5.1596

Authors

Haytham Gebril Department of Management Technology and Business, Faculty of Management Technology and Information Systems, Port Said University, Egypt; and College of Administrative and Human Sciences, Department of Human Resources Management, Buraydah Colleges, Al-Qassim, KSA
Hamdy Elgebaly Department of Business Administration, Gulf Colleges, Hafar Al-Batin City, KSA
Neama Elwakeel El Obour Higher Institute for Management, Computers and Information Systems, (Department of Business Administration), Cairo, Egypt
Amr Noureldin College of Administrative and Human Sciences, (Department of Business Administrations), Buraydah Colleges, Al-Qassim, KSA; and Faculty of Graduate Studies, Sinai University, ElArish, Egypt
Mohamed Aboueldahab Department of Management Technology and Business, Faculty of Management Technology and Information Systems, Port Said University, Egypt; and College of Administrative and Human Sciences, Department of Human Resources Management, Buraydah Colleges, Al-Qassim, KSA
ELsayed Saleh The Higher Institute of Administrative Sciences, Department of Business Administration,Janakless,Behiera. Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63332/joph.v5i5.1596

Keywords:

Perceived Overqualification, Job Crafting, Work Meaningfulness, Person-Job Fit Theory, Workforce Engagement, Saudi Arabia, Skill Utilization, Career Adaptability

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between perceived overqualification (POQ) and work meaningfulness, with job crafting as a mediating factor, within the Saudi Arabian workforce. Grounded in Person-Job Fit Theory, the research explores how overqualified employees actively reshape their job roles to enhance their sense of purpose and fulfillment at work. While previous studies have focused on the negative consequences of POQ, this study highlights the role of job crafting as a proactive strategy to mitigate these effects. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data were collected from 480 employees across various industries in Saudi Arabia’s public and private sectors. The results indicate that POQ has a significant positive effect on job crafting, suggesting that overqualified employees engage in job redesign to better align with their skills and career aspirations. Furthermore, job crafting has a strong positive effect on work meaningfulness, reinforcing its importance in enhancing job satisfaction and engagement. However, POQ does not directly influence work meaningfulness, indicating that its impact depends on employees' ability to engage in job crafting. The study confirms total mediation, demonstrating that job crafting fully explains the relationship between POQ and work meaningfulness. These findings contribute to Person-Job Fit Theory and provide practical implications for organizations to foster job crafting initiatives. Encouraging skill utilization, career adaptability, and leadership support can help overqualified employees maintain engagement and motivation, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 workforce development goals.