The Influence of Job Expertise on Operational Employees’ Performance with Job Satisfaction as an Intervening Variable at Sub Holding Pelindo Multi Terminal Branch Belawan

Abstract

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of job expertise on the performance of operational employees, with job satisfaction as an intervening variable at Sub Holding Pelindo Multi Terminal Branch Belawan. The research population consists of 186 employees, with a sample of 127 respondents determined using Slovin’s formula. The sampling technique applied was saturated sampling. This study employed primary quantitative data collected through questionnaires and processed using SmartPLS software. The research was conducted in 2025, and data analysis was performed using the path analysis model.The findings indicate that job expertise (X2) has a positive influence on job satisfaction (Z), with a path coefficient of 0.438 and a p-value of 0.00. Job expertise (X2) also has a positive and significant effect on performance (Y), with a path coefficient of 0.456 and a p-value of 0.00. Furthermore, job satisfaction (Z) positively affects performance (Y), with a path coefficient of 0.507 and a p-value of 0.003. Job satisfaction significantly mediates the relationship between job expertise (X2) and performance (Y), with a path coefficient of 0.230 and a p-value of 0.036. Additionally, performance (Y) is significantly mediated through job satisfaction, with a path coefficient of 0.222 and a p-value of 0.038 The results highlight the essential role of job expertise in improving employee performance, both directly and indirectly, through the mediating effect of job satisfaction.