The Impact of Career Competence on Career Sustainability Among Chinese Expatriate Managers Amid Digital Transformation in Vietnam: The Role of Lifelong Learning.

Wei Zhang,Yi-Nan Shan,Fa Li,Tachia Chin,Francesca Ventimiglia,Chien-Liang Lin

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.791636

Wei Zhang, Yi-Nan Shan + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.791636

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Abstract

Digitalization and advanced technologies are replacing human jobs. Around the world, many people have lost their jobs due to increasing digitalization. Similarly, Chinese expatriates associated with the manufacturing sector in emerging countries such as Vietnam face similar challenges. Therefore, Chinese expatriates need to bring competitiveness in their competencies. This competitiveness brings sustainability to their career. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of career competencies on career sustainability. Moreover, we test the mediating effect of lifelong learning in the relationship between career competencies and career sustainability. A questionnaire survey approach was used in this study. The target population was the Chinese expatriate managers working at China-invested manufacturing multinational organizations in Vietnam. To estimate the proposed relationships, we use structural equation modeling. The results are confirmed that in the direct relationship career competence has a positive impact on career sustainability. The findings of this study also indicate that career competencies have a positive impact on lifelong learning. Furthermore, outcomes confirmed that lifelong learning has a positive impact on career sustainability. Similarly, results are also confirmed that lifelong learning is positively mediating between career competencies and career sustainability. Therefore, the empirical results of this article identify that lifelong learning has a critical impact on sustainable careers. Specifically, this study is useful for mid-level managers who are associated with multinational organizations. At the end of this article, we also explained the practical implications, limitations, and future research directions.

Highlights

The mobility of human resources is increasing day by day, and we cannot avoid the impact of globalization
The results suggested that career competencies are positively related to career sustainability (H1, β = 0.574. p < 0.01); career competencies was significantly related to lifelong learning (H2, β = 0.555, p < 0.01); lifelong learning was significantly related to career sustainability (H3,β = 0.232, p < 0.01)
Prior studies indicate that career competencies on career sustainability have attracted the attention of many researchers

Summary

Introduction

The mobility of human resources is increasing day by day, and we cannot avoid the impact of globalization. If we make inroads overseas, it becomes essential to secure local human resources, but it is common for employees to work as expatriates to advance their careers. Chinese MNCs are identified as the powerful emerging drivers of global economic growth (Rui et al, 2017; Song et al, 2021). Following this trend, more and more Chinese workers have been expatriated to operate factories in lessdeveloped yet populous Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Prior studies indicate that expatriate managers have gradually developed career competencies in the host countries (Chin and Rowley, 2018). Previous studies demonstrate that advanced skills and competitive competencies enhance career sustainability (Chin et al, 2019b, 2021a)

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