Perceived competence mobilization is the degree to which employees perceive that they have adequate opportunities to utilize their competences in their current jobs. The findings of the research reported here suggest that employees' perceived competence mobilization is associated with a number of favourable employee attitudes, including intrinsic motivation, organizational commitment and intention to stay with the organization. Findings based on cross-sectional data from 881 public workers indicate that perceived competence mobilization better predicts relevant employee attitudes than any of the other variables included. The indicated effect of perceived competence mobilization on intrinsic motivation overpowers the effect of self-efficacy (perceived competence), one of the core variables of self-determination theory. Perceived competence mobilization also appears to mediate many relationships involving self-efficacy or perceived training opportunities. Hence, continued research into this construct is of potential value to researchers and organizations.