Challenge or Hindrance? The Effects of Job Demands–Resources Imbalance on Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Turnover Intention

Street-level bureaucrats struggle with multiple job demands and limited resources, making their retention a persistent challenge. However, existing research offers only limited insights into how to retain them, as job demands and resources are often conceptualized as static, independent antecedents rather than as part of a dynamic and interactive process shaping turnover intentions. Drawing on the job demands–resources framework and conservation of resources theory, this study investigates the dynamic impact of imbalances between job demands and resources on turnover intentions among street-level bureaucrats. Using survey data from Chinese social workers, the study finds that greater imbalances between job demands and resources are significantly associated with higher turnover intentions. Intrinsic motivation plays a significant mediating role in this relationship. The study underscores the importance of maintaining a balance between job demands and resources to improve resource allocation and mitigate human capital crises.