Objective considerations undertaken in this study lead to the conclusion that regardless of their position and responsibilities, a sociologist operating in different sectors of the Polish labor market has a significant advantage over graduates of other disciplines within the social sciences and humanities. The study of sociology provides strong foundations for the development of both social sensitivity and qualified methodological research. However, this potential should be strengthened by the recognition of the importance of humanities competence and ethical disposal in sociological education. It will allow both the employers and employees to appreciate the important role that sociologist have in the process of creating/maintaining the positive content of social ties. Although they do not have a formalized expression, these ties lead to the creation of a governance axio‑normative order. This article is an attempt at pointing out the inevitability of redefinition of the professional and social role of sociologists in Poland.

In the following paper, the specifics of consumption have been illustrated as a socio‑economic phenomenon encompassing the areas of social and economic life that overlap each other. This gives rise to difficulties with the unequivocal determination of the boundaries between the fields of science that deal with such research. The pursuit of becoming familiar with the entire research concerned with consumption leads to the need to apply an interdisciplinary approach. The author of the following paper formulates thesis that the principal role in the interdisciplinary approach on consumption is played by a sociologist with regard to the competences that are associated with the possibility of combining various research methods within the framework of a single project. Theoretical foundations of the interdisciplinary approach have been presented along with examples of its application in research on consumption. Particular attention has been paid to the methodological challenges that sociologists face in research on micro and macro‑social dimensions of consumption.

The simultaneous combining of studying with work fuses the two areas of human activity. The qualitative study of graduates from sociology and cultural studies of a selected university in Poland showed that the transfer of knowledge, skills and competences is not unidirectional: from education to the workplace only but also multidirectional and reciprocal: from work to education. This dual ways of transfer can reinforce the effectiveness of studying in a modern university. The outcome of these multilateral transfers are skills and tacit competences which can form a kind of a value added to the process of general education. This activity might also have some side effects such as: lack of time and vitality to study and delays in submissions at every stage of studying but especially in submitting the final thesis.

The system transformation in Poland generated a range of changes — one of them was the issue of the importance and social recognition of education and de facto efforts made by Poles to gain better education. The discourse of the transformation period pointed to the importance of a higher degree in the context of attractive job offerts, high income, and “protection” against unemployment. The increasing mass of university graduates however, resulted in a diploma itself being no longer a gateway to an attractive professional career and income. The opening up of the European Union’s educational markets, media messages and politicians’ statements belittling the value of studies that do not guarantee work, demographic decline, and other factors caused a decreased interest in the studying the humanities and social sciences. This stimulated, and even forced universities to create an attractive educational offer, introduce new fields of study, and consider how to attract new students. This paper presents the results of quantitative empirical studies involving undergraduate students at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Wrocław: in the fields of Sociology, Social Work, and Sociology of Dispositional Groups. These studies enabled to identify main determinants underling young people’s decisions. While interests dominated among the determinants, an equally important role was played by issues connected with prospects of a professional career, attractiveness of the field of study and possibilities of acquiring useful skills over the course of studies. Sometimes, however, the choice of the field of study at the Institute of Sociology of the University of Wrocław was determined by a negative result of recruitment for a different field of study.

The following article presents the author’s own research along with other studies and analyses concerning the fates of sociology graduates and their opportunities in the labor market. It also addresses their perception in the labor market in Poland. Moreover, the author outlines model professional roles for graduates in sociology and social work.

The main aim of this article is to examine the relationship between the profession “sociologist” and its potential precarization. The article presents an analysis of sociology as a profession, as well as the labor market of graduates in sociology based on data from selected Polish cities. In the second part of the article, the author raises the issues of professional identity, and in particular, tries to answer the question about the professional identity of sociology graduates. Given that precarity applies to people who, in order to survive, have to take up low‑quality jobs, which are unstable, temporary, underpaid, and have no prospect of promotion, no job security, and no employment contract — it is difficult to qualify a sociologist as a precarity profession.

The goal of this article is to explore the place and role of sociological reflection in the analysis of industrial relations in Poland after 1989. The article begins with the discussion about the specificity of the multidisciplinary field of industrial relations (collective employment relations) research. Next, the main areas of interests of the Polish sociologists studying the problems of collective employment relations are analysed. In the final part of the article, with the reference to the division of sociological labour proposed by Michael Burawoy, the various professional roles of industrial relations researchers within the scope of academic sociology, critical sociology, professional sociology and policy‑oriented sociology are discussed.

The article refers to the topic of a practical application of sociology of work and related social roles of sociologists of work. Applied sociology, which is sociological knowledge used for practical purposes, found its theoretical background in the work of sociologists such as Leon Petrażycki and Adam Podgórecki. Michael Burawoy and other representatives of public sociology seek to encourage the discipline to stand on the side of society and conduct research in a socially and politically engaged manner. Using the knowledge of sociologists working in social practice creates its added value, strengthens the position of sociology as a socially useful science. On the other hand, it exposes its representatives to the accusation of serving authority, subordination of scientific knowledge and its applications to the expectations of a sponsor or the requirements of employers. Involvement in public affairs is an opportunity to rebuild the importance of this sub-discipline in Poland after its crisis since 1989.

In wiew of research carried out by the public employment service, a sociologist is a surplus profession. This is indicated both by the analysis carried out on the basis of the methodology extract of deficit and surplus (years 2006—2015) and the studies carried out in accordance with the currently applicable methodology of barometer profession. The article points to the weaknesses and limitations used in the public employment services methodology for gathering information regarding the expected situation in the local and regional labor markets. Meanwhile, presented statistical data show a more rapid loss of unemployed status for sociology graduates compared to graduates from other courses — which are considered scarce. This article presents the results of the professional activity of sociology graduates. The author shows significant differences between the study of public employment services and research of the professional activity of sociology graduates.

For the last several years, the situation of young people in the labor market has been difficult. On the onset of their careers, they have to cope with numerous challenges and requirements; they have to adapt their skills to the capacity and needs of the challenging labor market. Thence, it is important for the young generation to make the right decisions concerning the choice of future professions. This choice is frequently made as a result of common opinions rather than actual skills and interests. This article aims to provide guidelines for the decision-making process connected with the choice of profession. The analysis focuses on the professional situation of sociologists.

The paper presents selected research results concerning employers’ perception of labor market flexibility. In the theoretical part, employment relationships, conceptualizations of labor market flexibility with particular emphasis on flexible organization of work, and public discourse on employment flexibility as well as negative connotations of the term were outlined. Subsequently, theoretical and methodological assumptions were discussed. The empirical part of the paper covers selected results which are directly related to research questions. First, the popularity of flexible organization of work among the interviewed entities and attempts to discover factors explaining such prevalence are discussed. Next, forms of flexibility adapted as well as confrontation of flexible forms of employment with flexible organization of work adapted in interviewed firms are considered. Subsequently, the benefits from implementation of flexible organization of work are presented perceived by employers who have and have not introduced this forms of flexibility supplemented by opinions on balance of benefits. The report on the results is summed up by evaluation of obstacles in the implementation of flexible organization of work predicted by the interviewed entities.

The following article concerns the role of a sociologist in a large modern enterprise. Modern corporations are managed like large armies following Clausewitz’s example, which restrict areas of sociologists’ use against benefits and the satisfactions of organization members/shareholders. The article also presents Chip Conley’s idea for enterprise management and the important role
of primary shareholders.

Sociology of medicine has been treated as a sub-discipline of sociology for a long time. It concerns broadly defined problems of health and illness in social groups and individuals, as well as the relations between them. It can be claimed that a sociologist of medicine is a profession determined by the area of their own professional activity. The subject of the study is a theoretical analysis of the professional role of sociologists of medicine and their careers, mainly in science and didactics, prevailingly at medical universities. Moreover, their education and knowledge are useful in research project implementation, in the field of healthcare economy, and in studies concerning the services offered by medical professionals. In sociology of medicine, health stands for a relatively new paradigm, whose analyses result in research into pro-health attitudes. Therefore, the sociologists of medicine can be members of health education groups. Besides, they constitute a group of specialists who can participate in public debates about health and illness issues. The areas of professional practice mentioned in this paper are only examples of potential activity within the sociology of medicine, which are realized by professionals such as economists, nurses, doctors, assessors, psychologists, and sociologists. That is why we should ask ourselves a question whether practicing sociology of medicine in Polish conditions is a separate profession or a sub-discipline of sociology. Sociology of medicine does not exist as a separate profession yet, but it has features which may allow it to become one in the future.

The main purpose of the article is to investigate the connection between the socio‑cultural capital of students and their prospects in the labor market. The author begins with a short reference to the issue of youth employment. It has been emphasized that the latest 2008 economic breakdown has had a huge impact on European and domestic work markets. Young employees have had to cope with many difficulties, including unemployment and precarious work conditions. The is issue can be addressed from different points of view. However, many researchers focus on incompatibility between the qualifications of young workers and the requirements of employers. The authors’ proposition is to consider the problem from a different perspective — through analyzing students’ social and cultural resources. The main assumption is that the socio‑cultural capital can be seen as a kind of facilitator that enables better occupational prospects.

A contemporary analysis of social sciences, including sociology, which describe the condition of democracy shows that they are filled with concern about future redistribution of freedom and power participation. In this we seem to be the undisputed sons of Western civilization with its ancient roots in the pessimistic view of democracy. A question arises: what is a chance and what is a threat to democracy?
The politics of surveys is a form of populism. When the Internet broke the monopoly of the classic media, there emerged a kind of professionals trolls and haters setting up portals that spread propaganda and misinformation. Thus, influencing voters starts at their home on their computer. Hate speech has become widespread. Are we getting closer to civic journalism or rather to some kind of electronic ochlocracy embellished with pluralism and egalitarianism in access to information? All these new phenomena necessitate the development of modern political sociology which is primarily concerned with the increasing role of social communication, with particular emphasis on political communication, participatory democracy, and political marketing. These challenges ultimately raise a question to where the line between researcher’s neutrality and passivity is. It boils down to the courage to remain impartial in spite of pressures or the need to unequivocally take the side of truth.

In spite of the long tradition of research on occupational prestige, there is not a lot of data concerning the influence of gender on the prestige on the labor market. The research plan for my doctoral thesis was an atlempt at analyzing opinions and experiences of members of highly prestigious occupational groups. An analysis of the data obtained from interviews shows differences between the prestige of men and women in the labor market. Two important issues are the impact of family life on the career and gender division of work according to the traditional cultural roles. Nevertheless, the interviewees assumed that in their work environment was a meritocratic criterion of prestige rather than gender, which mattered for the individual’s prestige.

The article presents the possibilities and ways of functioning of a sociologist in the contemporary labor market in Poland based on an analysis of posters presented at the conference “The sociologist meaning who? ... Problems of qualifications of sociologists and their position in a labor market — the international and national requirements and local experience”. This case study is positioned between visual sociology and the sociology of work. The analysis of the posters as products of visual culture is connected with the reflection concerning the basic projections about the role of a sociologist in a society and potential areas of their professional activity shown by the authors of the posters. In this context it is possible to notice some interplay between the perception of professional roles of a sociologist and student authors scientific specialization (which is vivid in the case of students of Sociology of the City and the Region or Sociology of Organizations and Management) as well as recurring concepts of the potential activities of sociologists in the labor market nowadays. It is not possible, however, to generalize the results of this inquiry since they are only of the explanatory character. The analysis has shown the importance of education in the area of creation of visual imagination which seems to be in deficiency among students.