Kontribusi Kompetensi Teknis Dan Soft Skills Dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Pegawai di Era Digital, Dimediasi Oleh Motivasi

Muhammad Tafsir; Mappamiring Parenta; Heslina Heslina; Munawir Munawir

doi:10.37479/jeej.v8i3.37032

Kontribusi Kompetensi Teknis Dan Soft Skills Dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Pegawai di Era Digital, Dimediasi Oleh Motivasi

Muhammad Tafsir, Mappamiring Parenta, Heslina Heslina, Munawir Munawir

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effects of competence and soft skills on employee performance, with motivation serving as a mediating variable. A quantitative research design was employed using a survey method involving employees of KPPBC Type Madya Pabean B Makassar. Data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software. Competence was measured through motives, traits, self-concept, knowledge, and skills, while soft skills were measured through communication ability, emotional intelligence, thinking ability, ethics, and leadership. Motivation was assessed using intrinsic and extrinsic factors, and employee performance was measured through work quality, work quantity, responsibility, teamwork, and initiative. The findings reveal that competence and motivation have a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Soft skills show a positive but statistically insignificant direct effect on performance. Both competence and soft skills significantly influence motivation. Further analysis of indirect effects indicates that motivation does not significantly mediate the relationship between competence and employee performance; however, motivation significantly mediates the relationship between soft skills and employee performance. The coefficient of determination indicates that competence and soft skills explain 84.5% of the variance in motivation, while competence, soft skills, and motivation jointly explain 70.6% of the variance in employee performance. These results highlight the critical role of motivation in strengthening the impact of soft skills on employee performance in a dynamic organizational context.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Abdullah, N., Hadi, N. U., & Dana, L. P. (2022). Human capital and open innovation: Do social media networking and knowledge sharing matter? Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 8(3), 116. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc8030116

Appelbaum, E., Bailey, T., Berg, P., & Kalleberg, A. (2000). Optimizing employee creativity in the digital era: Uncovering the interactional effects of abilities, motivations, and opportunities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 1038. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17031038.

Ariani, Erika Ayu & Ahmadi, S. (2023). Motivasi sebagai Mediasi Kompetensi dan Komitmen Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Desa-Desa di Kecamatan Gunung Putri Kabupaten Bogor. EKOMABIS: Jurnal Ekonomi Manajemen Bisnis, 4(02), 129 – 140

Caroline, A., Coun, M. J. H., Gunawan, A., & Stoffers, J. (2024). A systematic literature review on digital literacy, employability, and innovative work behavior: Emphasizing contextual approaches in HRM research. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1448555

Dewi, N. P., Nurhatisyah, N., Elkarima, N. ., & Pawar, A. . (2025). Transformational Leadership, Digital Competence, and Employee Performance: Examining the Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and the Moderating Influence of Perceived Organizational Support. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 16(1), 47–72. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v16i1.25429

Grenda, D. (2026). Technological knowledge, soft skills and management & leadership skills: Three pillars for the digitally competent manager. Journal of Business Economics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-025-01250-x

Goni, Geovanno Harland (2021). Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Peningkatan Kinerja Karyawan Pada PT. Bank Rakyat Indonesia Cabang Tahuna. Productivity, Vol. 2 No. 4.

José Manuel Montero Guerra,Ignacio Danvila-del-Valle,Mariano Méndez-Suárez (2023). The impact of digital transformation on talent management. Technological Forecasting and Social Change Volume 188, March 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.122291

Hair, J. F. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equa-tion Modeling (PLS-SEM). SAGE Publications, Los Angeles

Hardiani, H., Hasyim, H., & Tafsir, M. (2024). Menciptakan Sinergi: Lingkungan Kerja dan Motivasi untuk Kinerja Optimal. Al-Buhuts, 20(2), 495-508.

Hasbiyadi, H. (2018). Pengaruh Kompetensi Kerjasama Tim Dan Kepemimpinan Melalui Komitmen Organisasional Terhadap Kinerja Perusahaan Pada Bumn Di Kota Makassar. BJRM (Bongaya Journal of Research in Management), 1(1), 01–13.

Hasbiyadi, H., Rijal, S., Tamrin, M., Tafsir, M., & Mochtar, H. (2023). Pengaruh Kompetensi, Kedisiplinan, dan Motivasi terhadap Kinerja Polisi Pada Polres Jeneponto. Economics and Digital Business Review, 4(1), 367-374.

Insani, K. P., Jibril, K. K., Hamid, U., & Yunus, A. T. (2023). Pengaruh Hard Skill dan Soft Skill Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai. Center of Economic Students Journal, 6(1), 103–115.

Jiang, K., Hu, J., Liu, S., & Lepak, D. (2025). A serial mediation effect of digital transformation on employee performance: An ability–motivation–opportunity framework and employee unlearning. Journal of Business Research, 201, 115696. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115696

Kasiyanto. (2019), Pengaruh Kompetensi dan Kompensasi terhadap Kinerja Dimediasi oleh Motivasi Kerja Pada Tenaga Pendidik Politeknik Angkatan Darat, Jural Ekonomi dan Manajemen, 20(1), 1411–5794.

Kasyifillah. M.H (2023). Pengaruh Motivasi, Disiplin Kerja, Dan Pengalaman Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Pt Usaha Yekapepe Surabaya. Jurnal Ilmu dan Riset Manajemen Vol 12 No. 7

Katarzyna Piwowar-Sulej , Jana Blštáková, Lenka Ližbetinová, Branislav Zagorsek (2024). The impact of digitalization on employees' future competencies: has human resource development a conditional role here?. Journal of Organizational Change Management Volume 37, Issue 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-10-2023-0426

Karneli, O., Handayati, R., & Rijal, S. (2024). Enhancement of Soft Skills Competence in Human Resources as a Key Success Factor in the Digital Business Era. Journal of Contemporary Administration and Management (ADMAN), 2(1), 319–324. https://doi.org/10.61100/adman.v2i1.126

Katamang, A. F., Tulusan, F. M. G., & Palar, N. R. A. (2018). Pengaruh Kompetensi Sumber Daya Manusia Terhadap Kinerja Aparatur Sipil Negara Dinas Pertanian Kabupaten Kepulauan Sangihe. 53(9), 1689–1699.

Krisnawati, K. D. dan I. W. Bagia. (2021). "Pengaruh Kompetensi Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan". Jurnal Manajemen. Vol 7. No. 1

Kuncoro, Mudrajad. (2018). Metode Kuantitatif Teori Dan Aplikasi Untuk Bisnis. Dan Ekonomi. Edisi Kelima. Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Manajemen YPKN: Yogyakarta

Lianasari, M., & Ahmadi, S. (2022). Pengaruh Kompetensi dan Lingkungan Kerja Terhadap Kinerja dengan Motivasi Kerja sebagai Variabel Intervening. Fokus Bisnis Media Pengkajian Manajemen Dan Akuntansi, 21(1), 43–59.

Meng An, Jiabao Lin,Xin (Robert) Luo (2024). The impact of human AI skills on organizational innovation: The moderating role of digital organizational culture. Journal of Business Research Volume 182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114786

Munawaroh, M., Khaerunnisa, R., Mudaeroh, M., Galuh, A., & Maulana, A. (2026). From competence to agility: A systematic review of digital competence and employee agility effects on employee performance in the digital transformation era. PANDITA: Interdisciplinary Journal of Public Affairs, 9(1), 92–107. https://doi.org/10.61332/ijpa.v9i1.443

Nazwani, A. B., Jayadi, M., & Khamdan, A. (2025). The influence of digital organizational culture and digital competence on employee performance with digital transformation as an intervening variable. Formosa Journal of Sustainable Research, 4(11). https://doi.org/10.55927/fjsr.v4i11.699

Novi, E. K N., Juru, P., & Obon, W.. (2023). Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja Dan Soft Skill Terhadap Profesionalitas Guru Di SMAK ST. Gabriel Maumere. Jurnal Ekonomi, Manajemen Pariwisata Dan Perhotelan, 2(3), 152-163.

Puji Salvano, D., Ode Labsin Naadu , L. ., & Mahendri Hara , T. (2023). Pengaruh Kompetensi dan Motivasi terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Pada Kantor Cabang Bri Kota Bekasi. Jurnal Sosial Dan Sains, 3(2), 185–198.

Pradana, M., Silvianita, A., Syarifuddin, S., & Renaldi, R. (2022). The implication of digital organisational culture on firm performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.840699

Purnomo, J. (2024). E-HRM as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Work Competence and Work Motivation on Employee Performance. SENTRALISASI, 13(2), 112–126. https://doi.org/10.33506/sl.v13i2.3199

Putu Asri Anggita Putri (2025). The Effect of Human Resource Management and Work Discipline on Employee Performance with Work Motivation as a Mediation Variable in a Property Consulting Company in Ubud Gianyar. Bussiness Management Vol 4(2).

Sulaiman, S., Saleh, C., Muluk, M. R. K., & Setyowati, E. (2025). Digital competence and employee performance: The mediating role of work motivation in the public sector. Journal of Cultural Analysis and Social Change, 10(2), 580–592. https://doi.org/10.64753/jcasc.v10i2.1646

Rusilawati & Ermina (2023).. Mediation Effect of Work Motivation on the Relationship between Soft Skills and Hard Skills, and Impact on Employee Performance in Skincare Clinical. International Conference on Business Management and Accounting, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 2, p. 475-483

Ramadhan F, Hendriani S, & Nuryanti. (2023). Pengaruh Hard Skill dan Soft Skill Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Dengan Pelatihan Sebagai Variabel Moderasi Pada Pegawai Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas II A Kota Pekanbaru. Masip: Jurnal Manajemen Administrasi Bisnis Dan Publik Terapan, 1(3), 152–160.

Retnosari (2024). Digital Strategies, Workforce Skills, and the Path to Financial Resilience. Journal Economic Business Innovation (JEBI) Vol 2920.

Robbins, Stephen, P. dan Timothy, A. Judge, (2018). Perilaku Organisasi, Edisi. Kedua belas, Jakarta: Salemba Empat.

Rosita, R., Surbakti, A., & Sinurat, E. J. (2025). Strategies for employee competency development in the era of digital transformation: An innovative human resource management approach. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management, 10(49s).

Sartika, M., Astuti, S. D., Chasanah, A. N., & Riyanto, F. (2023). Digital skills to improve work performance. International Journal of Accounting, Management, and Economics Research, 1(2), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.56696/ijamer.v1i2.14

Setyanti, S. W. L. H., Faliza, N., & Rustandy, A. (2025). Human Capital in the Digital Age: Navigating Talent Retention and Upskilling Strategies for Global Competitiveness. Journal of Economics and Management Scienties, 7(3), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.37034/jems.v7i3.88

Soelistya, D. (2025). The Role of Soft Skills in Improving Human Resource Performance and Productivity. MSJ : Majority Science Journal, 3(1), 82–89. https://doi.org/10.61942/msj.v3i1.280

Syaharuddin, Fachrunaufal M. (2023). Pengaruh Motivasi Dan Kompetensi Serta Lingkungan Kerja Terhadap Kinerja Pegawai. Forum Ekonomi: Jurnal Ekonomi, Manajemen dan Akuntansi. Vol 25, No 4.

Tangahu, Mohamad Rifan, Irwan Yantu, and Robiyati Podungge. (2022). “Soft Skill Dan Kinerja Karyawan: Studi Kasus Pada Kantor BPJS Kesehatan Gorontalo.” JAMIN Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen Dan Inovasi Bisnis 4(2):192.

Ulla. Attia Aman, Waqas Mehmood, Saqib Amin, Yasir Abdullah Abbas (2022). Human capital and organizational performance: A moderation study through innovative leadership. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge. Volume 7, Issue 4, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2022.100261

Van Laar, E., van Deursen, A. J. A. M., van Dijk, J. A. G. M., & de Haan, J. (2020). Digital competencies: A review of the literature and applications in the workplace. Computers & Education, 146, 103752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103752

Vial, G. (2019). Understanding digital transformation: A review and a research agenda. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 28(2), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2019.01.003

Wang, G., Mansor, Z. D., & Leong, Y. C. (2024). Unlocking digital performance: Exploring the mediating role of employee competitive attitudes, behaviors, and dynamic capabilities in SMEs. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13, Article 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-024-00395-3

Yener, S., Arslan, A., & Kilinç, S. (2021). The moderating roles of technological self-efficacy and time management in the technostress and employee performance relationship through burnout. Information Technology & People, 34(7), 1890–1919. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-09-2019-0462

Zhuravlova, I. V. (2025). Human capital theory in the context of digital transformation of the economy. Business Inform, 7(569), 241–248. https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-4459-2025-7-241-248

Zhou. Qiwai, Ran Huang,Jih-Yu Mao (2025). A serial mediation effect of digital transformation on employee performance: An ability-motivation-opportunity framework and employee unlearning. Journal of Business Research Volume 201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115696

Zulbilal. Zulbilal, Aryan Torrido, (2024). ardiyah Mardiyah 9Digital Skills Development and Workforce Innovation: A Systematic Review of Human Capital Management in Education. AL-IDARAH: JURNAL KEPENDIDIKAN ISLAM, Vol 14 (2).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37479/jeej.v8i3.37032