An Analysis of Differences in Work Motivation between Public and Private Sector Organizations

! is study contributes to our understanding of the diff erences in work motivation between the public and private sectors. Data from a survey of 3,314 private sector and 409 public sector employees in Belgium strongly confi rm previous research showing that public sector employees are less extrinsically motivated. Diff erences in hierarchical level are more important determinants of work motivation than sectoral diff erences. In addition, most observed diff erences can be wholly or partially explained by diff erences in job content, not by the sector itself. Evidence is presented to show that motivational diff erences can be explained by a positive choice of work – life balance.