Julie Ulstein will defend her thesis for the PhD in Social Science, specialization Social Work and Social Policy with Sustainable Employment for People from Vulnerable Groups: An Analytical Framework for Active Labor Market Policy and Employer Characteristics.
The trial lecture lasts from 11:00-11:45.
Title: What is the most relevant social theories in social policy and social work on the nature of sustainable employment among vulnerable groups?
The candidate will defend her thesis at 13:00.
The committee is:
Leader of the public defence is dean Oddgeir Osland, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University.
Main supervisor is Research Professor Ida Drange, Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (AFI), Oslo Metropolitan University.
Co-supervisor is Professor Åsmund Hermansen, Oslo Metropolitan University.
Co-supervisor is Professor Nicolette van Gestel, Tilburg University.
This thesis addresses the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in securing sustainable employment and the limitations of active labor market policies (ALMPs) in improving these employment outcomes. It introduces an analytical framework that integrates literature on ALMPs and employer characteristics, aiming to understand how policies can be tailored to address structural differences between employers. The research question is: how can an integrated analytical framework help identify combinations of ALMPs and employer characteristics that contribute to sustainable employment?
This is explored through three empirical studies, examining the effect of the joint inclusion effort (a Norwegian ALMP) on labor market participation for people with disabilities, the impact of employer characteristics on sustaining employment for workers with reduced capacity, and the prevalence of topics on sustainable employment in inclusive organizations. The findings have implications for theory, methodology, and social policy, challenging the “one-size-fits-all” approach and highlighting the need for more targeted strategies.