Trial lecture
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?
Public defence
The candidate will defend her thesis at 13:00
The committee
Professor Thomas Bredgaard, Aalborg university
Professor Alexi Gugushvili, University in Oslo
Associate professor Ragnhild Fugletveit, Oslo Metropolitan University
Leader of the public defence
Dean Oddgeir Osland, Faculty of Social Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University
Supervisors
Main supervisor: Research Professor Ida Drange, Centre for Welfare and Labour Research (AFI), Oslo Metropolitan University
Co-supervisor: Professor Åsmund Hermansen, Oslo Metropolitan University
Co-supervisor: Professor Nicolette van Gestel, Tilburg University
Summary
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.
