FACTORS INFLUENCING INTENTION TO JOIN MARITIME INDUSTRY AMONG FEMALE MARITIME STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Female students have always had a hardworking and valiant character, with high self-confidence and a powerful spirit in the university culture. The fact that there is a global gender bias in the workforce in various industries, including maritime industries cannot be denied. However, the increase in the number of female students attending maritime programmes in the universities and colleges in Malaysia, shows that the younger generation nowadays is becoming more aware of the changing perceptions of women at sea. Even though the SOR theory was highly used to predict individual future behaviour in various contexts, however, there are lack of literature employing the S-O-R theory in the maritime context's studies. Thus, to fill these gaps, by adopting the S-O-R theory, this study attempts to identify what are the factors influencing the intention to join the maritime industry among female students who studying maritime-related courses in higher institutions in Malaysia. Employing a purposive sampling method, the link to the questionnaire was distributed online, and a total of 302 respondents were gathered. The analysis with structural equation modelling with Smart PLS found that career reputation and salary expectation have a positive relationship with job image and personnel interest, and job image and personnel interest have a positive influence on intention to join the maritime industry. The findings of the study will provide insightful information which is useful for the higher institutions and employers in the maritime industry to craft better policy and recruitment strategies to attract and increase the participation of women in the maritime industry.