Based upon the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects are expected to be favorable within the social work industry over the next several years.
Overall, within the social work field, employment is expected to grow at a rate of 16%, faster than the average (12%) for all occupations through 2018.
Growth projections by type:
- Medical and public health ~ 22%
- Mental health and substance abuse ~ 20%
- Child, family and school ~ 12%
- All other social workers ~ 13%
Social workers specializing in geriatrics or working in rural areas will be in particular demand.
In light of the fact that I am in the process of making a career transition from the marketing field to the world of social work, I was very happy to hear this news. I hope you are feeling happy about these projections as well.
Do you have additional sources of industry information that you’d like to recommend? Please share any thoughts or comments below. I love hearing from you 🙂
Photo credit: What is a Social Worker? Journal
Thanks so much for sharing this valuable information, Nancy.
Where can I find out more about the current shortage of social work PhDs in the academic world? And are they only in demand within the academic world?
Best,
Dorlee
The Outlook really is heartening. And the wonderful thing about a social work degree is that you can do so many things with it.
What this job outlook doesn’t tell you about is the shortage of social work PhDs that exists. The social work academic market is wide open…more positions than people who can fill them. The most competitive people are those with strong research training (not all PhD programs are equal in this regard) and at least two years post-MSW practice experience.