Labor, health, social work and the middle classes: Do Spanish youth have to jeopardize their health to find a job?

In the sphere of the European Union, especially in countries of southern Europe, the economic crisis and the redefining of welfare state benefits have led to a scenario in which many young people encounter major difficulties in attaining and/or maintaining a middle-class lifestyle. Their life trajectories may be affected not only by wage or job insecurity, but also by occupational hazards due to poor working conditions. In this paper, we examine the changes in occupational safety and health in Spain. The results shed light on the precarious working conditions of Spanish youth; a key factor in the failed career paths of young people. For this reason, one of the priorities of social work intervention programs should be the prevention of occupational hazards and workplace health promotion.