What Do Social Service Workers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for social service workers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what social service workers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Social Service Workers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about social service workers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Social Service Workers provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.
Popular Job Titles For Social Service Workers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- School Social Workers
- Family Advocates
- Family Support Specialists
- Family Services Specialists
- Family Support Workers
- Child Welfare Specialists
- Family Service Workers
- Case Managers
- School Speech Therapists
- Interventionists
- Youth Specialists
- Youth Development Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for social service workers can be found.
Best Industries for Social Service Workers
Social Service Workers Jobs By Industry
- Individual and Family Services: 23.8%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 21.2%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 19.4%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 12.7%
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services: 3%
- Other Residential Care Facilities: 2.5%
- Other: 17.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of social service workers can be found working in the Individual and Family Services sector. In 2022, about 23.8% of all jobs for social service workers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (21.2%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (19.4%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (12.7%), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (3%) and Other Residential Care Facilities (2.5%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Social Service Workers
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Do Social Service Workers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what social service workers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work social service workers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that social service workers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for social service workers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Social Service Workers
Based on 51,308 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Social Service Workers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 25,124 | 49% |
| Case Management | 12,303 | 24% |
| Human Services | 10,845 | 21% |
| Psychology | 9,498 | 19% |
| Mental Health | 8,636 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Social Service Workers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 19,365 | 38% |
| Advocacy | 11,328 | 22% |
| Planning | 10,285 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 7,162 | 14% |
| Writing | 6,933 | 14% |
Based on 51,308 job postings related to social service workers, social work was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for case management, human services, psychology, mental health and family support were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for social service workers, followed by advocacy, planning, coordinating, writing and management.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 25,124 | 49% |
| Case Management | 12,303 | 24% |
| Human Services | 10,845 | 21% |
| Psychology | 9,498 | 19% |
| Mental Health | 8,636 | 17% |
| Family Support | 7,024 | 14% |
| Crisis Intervention | 6,214 | 12% |
| Child Welfare | 5,765 | 11% |
| Treatment Planning | 5,498 | 11% |
| Child Development | 4,860 | 9% |
| Disabilities | 4,559 | 9% |
| Working With Children | 4,424 | 9% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 4,011 | 8% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 3,629 | 7% |
| Special Education | 3,558 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 3,459 | 7% |
| Sociology | 3,402 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health | 2,875 | 6% |
| Substance Abuse | 2,688 | 5% |
| Legal Hearings | 2,543 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 19,365 | 38% |
| Advocacy | 11,328 | 22% |
| Planning | 10,285 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 7,162 | 14% |
| Writing | 6,933 | 14% |
| Management | 6,910 | 13% |
| Multilingualism | 6,058 | 12% |
| Problem Solving | 5,659 | 11% |
| Leadership | 5,174 | 10% |
| Time Management | 4,705 | 9% |
| Organizational Skills | 4,244 | 8% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,150 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 4,016 | 8% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,015 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 4,012 | 8% |
| Teaching | 3,843 | 7% |
| Good Driving Record | 3,840 | 7% |
| Spanish Language | 3,528 | 7% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,498 | 7% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 3,489 | 7% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Social Service Workers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Social Workers | 13,688 | 17.7% |
| Family Advocates | 7,359 | 9.5% |
| Family Support Specialists | 7,093 | 9.2% |
| Family Services Specialists | 3,695 | 4.8% |
| Family Support Workers | 3,462 | 4.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was school social workers, with 5,281 unique job postings. Family advocates were second, with 2,700 postings, followed by family support specialists, family services specialists and family support workers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to social service workers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| School Social Workers | 13,688 | 17.7% |
| Family Advocates | 7,359 | 9.5% |
| Family Support Specialists | 7,093 | 9.2% |
| Family Services Specialists | 3,695 | 4.8% |
| Family Support Workers | 3,462 | 4.5% |
| Child Welfare Specialists | 3,436 | 4.5% |
| Family Service Workers | 3,219 | 4.2% |
| Case Managers | 3,861 | 5% |
| School Speech Therapists | 3,816 | 4.9% |
| Interventionists | 4,075 | 5.3% |
| Youth Specialists | 2,719 | 3.5% |
| Youth Development Specialists | 3,509 | 4.5% |
| School Physical Therapists | 2,464 | 3.2% |
| Parent Educators | 2,469 | 3.2% |
| To Go Specialists | 1,785 | 2.3% |
| Youth Care Specialists | 1,988 | 2.6% |
| Income Maintenance Caseworkers | 1,194 | 1.5% |
| Child Protective Investigators | 2,599 | 3.4% |
| Family Intervention Specialists | 3,419 | 4.4% |
| Child and Family Specialists | 1,336 | 1.7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for social service workers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for social service workers.
How much do social service workers make?
Social Service Workers: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.