Navigating a narrow one-way street: A mixed-methods study on the perceived working conditions, job satisfaction, and career perspectives of early-career scholars in communication science

Abstract

Research on the working conditions of early-career communication scholars in Switzerland remains scarce despite growing public attention to their precarious situation. Drawing on Herzberg’s two-factor theory of job satisfaction and social cognitive career theory, we explore (1) the experienced working conditions of early-career scholars at Swiss higher education institutions, (2) job (dis)satisfaction, (3) career perspectives, (4) gender differences, and (5) potential improvements and responsible actors. To this end, we used a mixed-methods design that combined focus group discussions with a quantitative survey. While the respondents highly valued flexibility in work, many respondents reported excessive workloads associated with pressure and stress. Job dissatisfaction was fueled by concerns about their professional and personal futures, which stemmed from nonpermanent contracts and limited career prospects. Factors such as personal relationships and exchanges with colleagues and superiors contributed to job satisfaction. The respondents viewed the university, professors, and political institutions as the most responsible for addressing working conditions, and they wished to see differentiated job profiles, improved family planning conditions, and more full-time and permanent positions. These empirical insights contribute to the discussion about and improvement of the situation of early-career scholars.