Under Pressure and Underserved: Occupational Stress, Job Satisfaction, and the Invisible Workforce of Egyptian Hotels

Abstract

Women hotel workers are central to Egypt’s rapidly expanding tourism sector, yet their occupational well-being remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study examines whether occupational stress predicts job satisfaction among women employed in Egyptian hotels, and whether stress levels differ by role. Occupational stress was a significant negative predictor of job satisfaction, though the relationship was weaker than comparable Western research would suggest. This attenuation may reflect cultural factors, including collectivist norms, high power distance, and faith-based and familial support networks, that shape how workplace pressure is experienced in this context, though this remains to be formally tested. Stress also varied considerably across roles, with culinary workers reporting the highest levels and housekeeping staff the lowest. These findings highlight the limitations of applying Western occupational stress frameworks uncritically in non-Western settings and underscore the need for role-specific, culturally informed approaches to workforce well-being in Egypt’s hotel sector.