Mapping Personality Traits with Job Roles for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Utilising Holland's RIASEC Model via the FIKR Profiling Assessment

Yap CK, Leow CS and Leong WSV

Published on: 2025-11-20

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) require a variegated pool of workers with the right combination of skills, knowledge, and personality traits to drive the world's development. In this research, we utilize Holland's RIASEC model-consisting of Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, and Social, Enterprising, and Conventional traits-along with the FIKR Profiling Assessment, to analyze the personality traits of 360 people and assess their fit for UNSDG-similar job roles. Key personality traits highlighted in our results are Realistic and Enterprising traits for infrastructure and economic development jobs, social traits for social welfare and equality jobs, and Investigative and Conventional traits for scientific and institutional governance work. Implications are that personality testing can be instrumental in enhancing recruitment and professional staff development by placing people in job roles that align with their natural abilities. It is not just a tool used by people to contribute meaningfully to the UNSDGs, but also an instrument that allows them to perform at their best. Additional research is needed to determine how these tests can refine selection for essential sustainability roles. Hence, in this study, the emphasis is placed on the application of personality tests, like Holland's RIASEC model, as a part of the hiring process for UNSDG-contributing positions. By identifying the most common traits related to one's job role in the domain of international sustainability, organizations can establish a team with the capabilities needed and disposed to follow the principles and objective of sustainable development. Its effective application would go a long way in improving recruitment and manpower planning so that people would be placed in situations where they would excel and be productive in the contribution towards the UNSDGs.