Entrepreneurship among Social Workers: Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals

• Published in: Sustainability 2024-01, Vol.16 (3), p.996
• Main Authors: Pereira, João, Rodrigues, Ricardo Gouveia, Veiga, Pedro Mota
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Career changes; Climate change; Curricula; Economic growth; Education; Empowerment; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurship education; Equal rights; Equality; Gender equality; Human rights; Innovations; Literature reviews; Professionals; Public sector; Self employment; Social justice; Social networks; Social work; Social workers; Society; Surveys; Sustainable development; Values
• ISSN: 2071-1050; 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su16030996

The study’s objective is to analyze the entrepreneurial intentions of social workers and their impact on the SDGs. Furthermore, it seeks to explore social workers’ perceptions and attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Thus, this research aims to answer the following research questions: How do entrepreneurial intentions among social workers influence their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and what are the implications of these intentions for social work practices and policies within the framework of sustainable development? Based on a quantitative approach, this study leverages microdata from the 2018 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey. The dataset includes responses from 4545 social workers across 30 high-income countries. The study employs logistic regression analysis as the primary statistical method to delve into the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among social workers within this diverse international sample. Key findings indicate that the aspiration to establish a future business is a significant factor, underscoring the importance of entrepreneurial intention in this context. Additionally, social workers in the private sector exhibit a greater predisposition to entrepreneurship compared to their public sector counterparts. The study’s implications for the SDGs are substantial, as promoting entrepreneurship among social workers can contribute to economic growth, poverty reduction, and reduced inequalities (SDGs 1, 8, and 10). It also emphasizes the importance of access to entrepreneurial education, sustainable job creation (SDG 4 and 8), and the development of partnerships among academic institutions, social assistance organizations, and entrepreneurial entities (SDG 17). Furthermore, the research highlights the significance of gender equality and access to entrepreneurial resources (SDGs 5 and 9) in fostering entrepreneurship among social workers.