Voices of Newly Qualified Social Workers: Job Precarity and Alternatives in Social Work in Bosnia-Herzegovina

This ongoing emancipatory action research explores newly qualified social workers' (NQSWs) lived experiences of transition from higher education to work. The study is focused on social work career-related transition in a... [ view full abstract ]

This ongoing emancipatory action research explores newly qualified social workers' (NQSWs) lived experiences of transition from higher education to work. The study is focused on social work career-related transition in a specific historical-cultural context of Bosnia-Herzegovina (B&H). However, the case of these NQSWs could be compared to some extent with the current precarious situation of young, highly educated people across Europe. Today, B&H is still under the international supervision and an EU-periphery potential candidate country. Years of war and long lasting transition in this former socialist state have resulted in crony capitalism, partitocracy and a majority of impoverished citizens. Moreover, B&H has one of the highest rates of overall and youth unemployment in Europe.
The aim of this doctoral research is to contribute to the recognition of career-related transition and job precarity among NQSWs as a public issue. Currently, these young, high skilled tertiary graduates are left to deal with it as if it is their private problem. This presentation will discuss preliminary research findings of the first phase of action research cycle – diagnosis of the existing situation. The individual interviews with NQSWs were collected in spring 2014. Many of them have reported on limited and unequal access to the existing work structures with social work degree on one side, and imposition of temporary, low paid and insecure work outside of social work profession. The aim of the presentation is to inform the international social work research community about current scenarios of social work career-related transition, as well to discuss possible alternative scenarios considering specific historical-cultural context of B&H and South East Europe, along with global discussion on re-visioning social work.