社會福祉士 需給 및 勤務環境 改善方案에 관한 硏究

Abstract

As major professionals in social welfare social workers play important roles in the overall social welfare situation of a country. According to the statistics produced by the Korean Association of Social Workers, the number of educational and training organizations for social workers has remarkably increased for the past three decades. Accordingly, social workers are judged to be oversupplied to the degree that the professional job markets are getting tighter than ever before. Also, their working conditions tend to become worse and to make negative impact on their professional practice. This study was conducted to identify the problems in the supply and demand policies and programs of Korean social workers and to come up with feasible solutions to improve their working environment. Data were collected and analyzed by investigating literatures and statistics made public by the government authority and professional organizations. Major findings of the study are summarized as follows : First, as to the supply of social workers, a number of educational and training organizations need to be accredited by the higher standard on educational manpower and their research achievements, so that they could produce better qualified professionals. The qualification examination system administered by the Korean Social Workers Association and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare needs to be strengthened so that it could encourage applicants to be prepared for the examinations. Second, most of social work agencies should be encouraged to hire highly qualified social workers. Third, social workers should be rewarded with wages comparable to public employees, high school teachers and other human service professionals.