Lived experiences of health workers’ job satisfaction at the health facility level in Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

Objectives This study aimed to explore healthcare workers’ lived experiences of job satisfaction and examine the multilevel factors perceived to shape these experiences at Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Design A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). Setting Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants A total of 24 in-depth interviews and 12 FGDs were conducted with purposively selected hospital staff. Methods Data were collected using semistructured interview guides informed by the Social Ecological Model to explore experiences and factors across individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy levels. All interviews and discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed using ATLAS.ti V.9 Findings Job satisfaction emerged as a multidimensional experience formed by interconnected factors across individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy levels. At the individual level, high workload, burn-out and low salary were key challenges. Interpersonal factors included strained patient–provider relationships and lack of recognition. Organisational barriers such as staff shortages, inadequate infrastructure and limited training opportunities contributed to difficult working conditions and dissatisfaction. At the community level, limited or changing public respect for health workers was reported. At the policy level, delays in procurement systems and inconsistencies in benefit distribution contributed to demotivation. Despite these challenges, many participants expressed a strong sense of professional commitment and purpose. Conclusion Hospital staff’s job satisfaction was experienced as a multidimensional phenomenon formed by interconnected conditions across multiple levels of the work and broader health-system environment. The findings suggest that efforts to improve healthcare workers’ experiences should consider these interconnected levels, including fair compensation, supportive leadership, adequate staffing and infrastructure, equitable access to opportunities, and responsive institutional and policy support. Such contextually responsive approaches may contribute to a more supportive working environment and strengthen healthcare workforce well-being and retention in Ethiopia.