A Study on the Relationship Between the Career Motivation and Professional Identity of Young Social Workers——An Empirical Investigation Based on Social Work Service Agencies in City Z, Guangdong Province

Accurately grasping the employment motivation and professional identity of young social workers is of great significance for building a high - quality social worker team. According to the self - determination theory, the employment motivation of young social workers can be divided into four types: internal drive type, external attraction type, composite motivation type, and motivation - lack type. Through a questionnaire survey, combined with survey questions on employment motivation types and a professional identity scale, a survey was conducted on young social workers in social work service agencies in City Z, Guangdong Province. The research found that there is a correlation between different employment motivations and the professional identity of young social workers. Among them, young social workers of the motivation - lack type have relatively low professional identity, while those of the internal drive type, composite motivation type, and external attraction type show higher professional identity. Based on the research results, it is proposed that social work service agencies should give play to the leading role of young social workers of the composite motivation type, stimulate the internal enthusiasm of young social workers of the internal drive type, strengthen the external incentives for young social workers of the external attraction type, and guide the motivation exploration of young social workers of the motivation - lack type. While enhancing the professional identity of young social workers, a high - quality and high - efficiency young social worker team should be built.