LAUSR

Purpose This study investigates how challenge–hindrance stressors influence employability through the energy–motivation mechanism and explores the moderating role of pay satisfaction and perceived career opportunity based on the JD-R model. Methods Three-wave time-lagged longitudinal data of 206 employees are analyzed using latent structural equation modelling. Results First, challenge stressors have an indirect positive effect on employability, mainly through intrinsic motivation, while hindrance stressors have an indirect negative effect on employability, mainly through emotional exhaustion. Second, perceived career opportunity strengthens the positive effect of challenge stressors on intrinsic motivation, which further promotes employability. Third, pay satisfaction alleviates the negative effect of hindrance stressors on emotional exhaustion, which, in turn, inhibits the decline in employability. Conclusion The paper clarifies the specific mediating effects of the energy and motivation mechanisms in the association between challenge–hindrance stressors and employability and the moderating effects of pay satisfaction and perceived career opportunity, thus extending studies on the challenge–hindrance stressors to career field and filling the gap in the knowledge of the boundary conditions of the energy–motivation mechanism.