2025/01/02 by Tenglong Wen, Hao Yan, Fan Wu · 1 voice
Social Sciences · Health Professions · Psychology · #Social Work Education and Practice #Employment and Welfare Studies #Resilience and Mental Health
paper · doi:10.1080/17525098.2025.2541419
openalex publication_date 2025/01/02 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/14
The misalignment of social work graduates in employment and the high turnover rates have hindered the professionalisation of social work in China. This study involves a national sample of 4,558 Chinese social workers to explore how professional education influences turnover intention, with professional identity and job satisfaction as mediators. Findings reveal that social workers with professional education exhibit greater turnover intentions, particularly those with higher degrees. Professional identity and job satisfaction sequentially mediate the relation between professional education and turnover intention. These findings reveal a paradox in the development of China’s social work workforce: social work departments face greater difficulties in retaining talents nurtured through the education system, which seriously hinders the professionalisation process of social work in China. Managers should enhance social workers’ recognition and satisfaction with their work by strengthening continuing education and improving career advancement pathways.