ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of human resource management practices on employees‟ job performance in local government councils in Bayelsa State. The study aimed to explore the combined contribution of these practices, including recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, career development, and performance appraisal, to job performance. Adopting a descriptive survey design, the research targeted 3,846 employees across eight local government councils, with a sample size of 351 determined using the Yamane formula. A structured questionnaire served as the primary data collection instrument, and data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS. Findings revealed significant relationships between recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, and performance appraisal with employees' job performance, while career development showed a positive but non-significant relationship. Compensation exhibited the highest positive influence, followed by career development, while recruitment and selection showed a negative correlation with job performance. Overall, human resource management practices were identified as significant predictors of employees' job performance. The study concluded that enhancing HR practices, particularly recruitment and selection, training, and compensation, is crucial for improving employee performance. It recommended merit-based recruitment, targeted training programs, performance-driven compensation strategies, regular performance appraisals, and structured career development initiatives to foster a more productive workforce in local government councils.
