A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Social workers' attitudes towards the unemployed in the Nordic countries
Authors: Kallio Johanna, Blomberg Helena, Kroll Christian
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd and International Journal of Social Welfare
Publication year: 2013
Journal: International Journal of Social Welfare
Article number: 10
Number in series: 2
Volume: 22
Issue: 2
First page : 219
Last page: 229
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 1369-6866
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2012.00891.x
Abstract
In recent decades, municipal social workers have become the implementers of new types of social policy measures aimed at activating the unemployed. These policies put a greater emphasis on the individual's own responsibility for being unemployed. Little is known, however, about how social workers view the unemployed – one factor that might influence how policies are in fact implemented. Therefore, our purpose was to analyse Nordic social workers' attitudes towards the unemployed and their determinants: Do social workers' attitudes correspond with a more individualistic view on unemployment? We utilised the data from surveys of professional social workers in four Nordic countries. Our analyses showed that individualistic attitudes towards the unemployed appeared to be rather rare among Nordic social workers. However, attitudinal differences were found between and within countries.
In recent decades, municipal social workers have become the implementers of new types of social policy measures aimed at activating the unemployed. These policies put a greater emphasis on the individual's own responsibility for being unemployed. Little is known, however, about how social workers view the unemployed – one factor that might influence how policies are in fact implemented. Therefore, our purpose was to analyse Nordic social workers' attitudes towards the unemployed and their determinants: Do social workers' attitudes correspond with a more individualistic view on unemployment? We utilised the data from surveys of professional social workers in four Nordic countries. Our analyses showed that individualistic attitudes towards the unemployed appeared to be rather rare among Nordic social workers. However, attitudinal differences were found between and within countries.
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