Work Design and Employee Well-Being: A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Research Agenda

Abstract

Work design is a critical determinant of employee well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational performance. Despite the growing body of research in this area, its intellectual structure, thematic evolution, and emerging research frontiers have not been comprehensively synthesised. This study addresses this gap by conducting a bibliometric analysis of 315 Scopus-indexed journal articles using VOSviewer to examine publication trends, citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, and thematic relationships. The findings demonstrate sustained growth in scholarly attention and identify core research themes centered on work design, job characteristics, leadership, mental health, job satisfaction, and burnout. Overlay visualization further reveals an increasing emphasis on employee engagement, psychological well-being, and occupational stress, reflecting the field’s evolving priorities. In addition, the analysis identifies emerging opportunities for future research in the areas of digital leadership, artificial intelligence, readiness for change, and work design in public sector organizations. By mapping the field’s knowledge structure and thematic development, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the literature and provides a research agenda to support both theoretical advancement and evidence-based organizational practice aimed at improving employee well-being.