Influence of Workforce diversity on Employee Productivity in selected departments within Nakuru County Government, Kenya

Abstract

The general purpose of this study was to examine the influence of workforce diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at the Nakuru County Government. The study sought to address five specific research objectives: to examine the influence of gender diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at the Nakuru County Government, to assess the influence of age diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at the Nakuru County Government, to establish the influence of physical ability diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at the Nakuru County Government, to examine the influence of ethnic diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at the Nakuru County Government and to assess the influence of skill inventory diversity on employee productivity in the selected departments at the Nakuru County Government. The study adapted a descriptive research design. The population of this study comprised all the 5,762 permanent employees working in the Nakuru County Government. The study used clustered sampling where a sample 152 employees were selected from two departments of the Nakuru County Government. Taro Yamane formulae was used to calculate the sample size. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Validity was assessed by subjecting the instruments to scrutiny by university supervisors while reliability was determined by conducting a pilot study. The collected data was analysed using the SPSS computer software version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data and results presented in form of percentages, frequencies, mean and standard deviation. The independent sample t-test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the influence of workforce diversity on employee productivity in selected departments at NCG. Findings revealed that gender (β= 0.154, p= .048), physical ability (β= 0.212, p= .007), and skill inventory diversity (β= .495, p= .000) have a positive and statistically significant influence on employee productivity at selected departments at NCG. Ethnic diversity (β= -.171, p= .039) was found to have a negative and statistically significant influence on employee productivity in selected departments in NCG. Age diversity had no effect on employee productivity (β= 0.018, p= 0.739). The study recommends that to improve employee productivity, NCG management should improve gender, physical ability, and skill inventory diversity. They should also develop strategies for fostering positive ethnic relations within the workforce.