Friday, April 13, 2018

The Need for Social Workers


There is a major need for social workers in a wide variety of fields. For example, child, family, and school social work jobs are expected to increase by 15% between 2012 and 2022. That is an estimated 43,100 new jobs that would be created. However, even though there is a desperate need for more social workers in school settings with the increasing population of youth in schools, state and federal funding tend to hinder the employment growth. In terms of medical social workers, there is an estimated 27% increase, which is almost 39,200 new jobs. With this, there is an increased need of the study of geriatrics (working with the elderly generation), since the baby-boomers are continuing to age. Their families need assistance on finding a reasonable healthcare plan. With the rise in earlier diagnoses of mental illness, a 23% increase in mental health/substance abuse social work jobs. More people are being sentenced to treatment facilities than jail, so there is an increased number of social workers needed in these places. In general, there is a projected 19% increase in the need of healthcare/social service employees. Jobs are accessible with just a bachelor's degree, yet holding a master's degree gives one a step up from others, as well as the ability to practice in a wider variety of settings.