The following information is directly cited from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09n Edition, social Workers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos060.htm (visited May 27, 2008).

Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people’s lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems. Some social workers help clients who face a disability or a life-threatening disease or a social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse. Some social workers conduct research, advocate for improved services, engage in systems design or are involved in planning or policy development. Many social workers specialize in serving a particular population or working in a specific setting.

Social workers held about 595 jobs in 2006. About 5 out of 10 jobs were in health care and social assistance industries and 3 out of 10 are employed by state and local government agencies, primarily in departments of health and human services. Employment by type of social worker in jobs in 2006 follows: child, family, and school social workers (282,000); medical and public health social workers (124,000); mental health and substance abuse social workers (122,000); and social workers, all other (66,000).

In May 2006, the child, family, and school social workers median annual earnings were $37,480; medical and public health social workers earnings were $43,040, and mental health and substance abuse social workers earnings were $35,410.  

Median annual earnings of social workers, all other were $43,580.  Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of social workers, all other, in May 2006 were: local government ($46,330), State government ($45,070), and individual and family services ($35,150).

Job prospects are generally expected to be favorable. Many job openings will stem from growth and the need to replace social workers who leave the occupation. However, competition for social worker jobs is expected in cities, where training programs for social workers are prevalent. Opportunities should be good in rural areas, which often find it difficult to attract and retain qualified staff. By specialty, job prospects may be vest for those social workers with a background in gerontology and substance abuse treatment.

Employment for all social workers is expected to increase by 22 percent during the 2006-2016 decade, growing much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of child, family and school social workers is expected to grow by 19 percent; for medical and public health social workers by 24 percent and for mental health and substance abuse social workers by 30 percent.

There are many careers in social work available to social work graduates from an accredited program such as ours. Careers include:

• Child Welfare Services - Work in foster care, adoption, protective services for abused or neglected children and in-group homes for children and youth.
• Juvenile Delinquency/Troubled Youth - Serve as probation officers for juveniles or as counselors in-group homes or youth centers.
• Health Care - The largest single field of practice for social workers. Generalist practice in either hospital-based practice or community-based practice.
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse - Work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers or group homes.
• School Social Work - Work with school children, parents and teachers to solve personal problems that hinder a youngster's academic progress.
• Services to the Aging - Work in area agencies on aging, which help older people lead productive lives and remain in their homes as long as possible. Work in nursing/rehabilitation or retirement centers.
• Rehabilitation of the Disabled - Help the mentally or physically disabled, through health care facilities, group homes or day care centers, to lead more productive lives.
• Mental Health - Work in community mental health systems, mental hospitals or hospital units as social workers, case managers or supervisor/administrators.
• Adult Criminal Justice - Serve as probation officers. Work in adult correctional settings.
• Public Welfare - Provide access to programs people need and also focus on individual and/or family growth and development.
• Emergency Shelters - Work as counselors or activity directors in temporary refuges for youth or abused women.

Social work is a challenging and fulfilling profession that attracts persons who have the spark of idealism, the desire to take action and make a difference in the world, a belief in social justice and a natural love of working with people. Social workers work directly with people in need, but many hours also may be spent with attorneys, judges, physicians, psychologists, teachers, clergy, police, correctional officials and group home directors, as well as fellow social workers. Frustrations that occur in social work positions are balanced by the many satisfactions.

The social work profession offers high employability in widely diverse fields. Surveys of Millersville social work graduates consistently find a large majority with full-time employment in social work.