Abstract
While individuals pursue their studies with hopes of securing employment, social work graduates are faced with a scarcity of available employment. Unfortunately, a significant number of qualified social work graduates are still unemployed. One may therefore argue that a university degree in a specialist discipline may not be sufficient to secure employment.
This study set out to explore the challenges experienced by graduates of a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme to secure employment upon completion of their studies. The study took place at a university in South Africa and used a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. The data was collected from eight participants from the same programme, using semi-structured individual interviews and a focus group. Data was then analysed using Tesch’s (1990) thematic analysis model. The human capital theory was used as a theoretical framework to understand the research findings.
The findings revealed that participants experienced similar challenges obtaining employment within the social work discipline. Most participants remained unemployed after graduation. All participants reported that despite completing a specialised degree, they could not secure employment. These factors resulted in psychological and emotional strain, whilst their social health and motivation to continue job-seeking were deeply affected. This study concluded with recommendations to employers and training providers on preparing graduates for employment.
Key words: Bachelor of Social Work, employability, field instruction, graduate readiness, job seeking.