2004 U.S. Department of Labor Statistics-Social Work Job Outlook
Social Work Job Outlook
The following is taken from the U.S. Government’s report on the job outlook for social workers (please refer to the source at the end of this post).
- Competition for social worker jobs is expected in cities, where demand for services often is highest and training programs for social workers are prevalent.
 - By specialty, job prospects may be best for those social workers with a background in gerontology and substance abuse treatment.
 - Demand for social workers in hospitals will grow more slowly than in other areas.
 - Social worker employment in home health care services is growing. Employment opportunities for social workers with backgrounds in gerontology should be good in the growing numbers of assisted-living and senior-living communities. The expanding senior population also will spur demand for social workers in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and hospices.
 - Strong demand is expected for substance abuse social workers over the 2004–14 projection period.
 - Employment of social workers in private social service agencies also will increase. However, agencies increasingly will restructure services and hire more lower paid social and human service assistants instead of social workers.
 - Employment in State and local government agencies may grow somewhat in response to increasing needs for public welfare, family services, and child protection services; however, many of these services will be contracted out to private agencies.
 - Employment of school social workers also is expected to grow.
 - Opportunities for social workers in private practice will expand, but growth may be somewhat hindered by restrictions that managed care organizations put on mental health services. The growing popularity of employee assistance programs is expected to spur demand for private practitioners.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Social Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm (visited April 19, 2006)
