 |
| Related Jobs |  | Counselor, Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder, Therapist, Recreational, Therapist, Physical, Social Worker, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Social Worker, Child, Family, and School, Therapist, Occupational |
| |
|
| Job Outlook | | Competition for social worker jobs is expected in cities, where demand for services often is highest and training programs for social workers are prevalent. However, opportunities should be good in rural areas, which often find it difficult to attract and retain qualified staff. By specialty, job prospects may be best for those social workers with a background in gerontology and substance abuse treatment.
Employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2016. The rapidly growing elderly population and the aging baby boom generation will create greater demand for health and social services, resulting in particularly rapid job growth among gerontology social workers. Many job openings also will stem from the need to replace social workers who leave the occupation.
As hospitals continue to limit the length of patient stays, the demand for social workers in hospitals will grow more slowly than in other areas. Because hospitals are releasing patients earlier than in the past, social worker employment in home health care services is growing. However, the expanding senior population is an even larger factor. 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.
Social workers held about 595,000 jobs in 2006. About 9 out of 10 jobs were in health care and social assistance industries, as well as State and local government agencies, primarily in departments of health and human services. Although most social workers are employed in cities or suburbs, some work in rural areas. Medical and public health social workers numbered 124,000. |
| |
|
| More Information | | Association of Social Work Boards, Council on Social Work Education, National Association of Social Workers |
| |
|
| References | | Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Social Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm
O*NET OnLine, on the Internet at
http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/21-1022.00#menu |
|
|
 |
