Changes in work goals' importance among Israeli workers over the course of time

This study examines changes in the importance of the work goals in Israel over a 25-year period. Results are reported for a series of cross-sectional studies conducted in 1981 (n = 973) and 2006 (n = 909), which were drawn from representative samples of Israeli workers. The samples allow us to examine the cohort effect (generational differences), the ageing effect and the period effect. The findings revile substantial differences in the work goals' importance over the course of time. Between 1981 and 2006 there was an increase in the importance of instrumental goals of pay and job security and the expressive goal of interesting work while the importance of interpersonal relations was decreased. This trend reflects the transaction from collectivistic society to individualistic and materialistic society and can be explain by generational/cohort effect and period effect. The changes in work goals over the course of time are explained by political, social and economic factors.