What Do Social Workers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for social workers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what social 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 Workers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about social workers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Social 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 Workers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Social Workers
- Case Managers
- School Social Workers
- Medical Social Workers
- Hospice Medical Social Workers
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers
- Caseworkers
- Family Advocates
- Hospice Social Workers
- Licensed Medical Social Workers
- Licensed Social Workers
- Family Support Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for social workers can be found.
Best Industries for Social Workers
Social Workers Jobs By Industry
- Individual and Family Services: 23.9%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 19.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 19.4%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 13.9%
- Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services: 3%
- Other Residential Care Facilities: 2.6%
- Other: 17.8%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of social workers can be found working in the Individual and Family Services sector. In 2023, about 23.9% of all jobs for social workers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (19.4%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (19.4%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (13.9%), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (3%) and Other Residential Care Facilities (2.6%).
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What Do Social Workers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what social 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 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 workers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for social 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 Workers
Based on 191,908 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Social Workers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 110,865 | 58% |
| Case Management | 70,248 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 39,954 | 21% |
| Psychology | 36,106 | 19% |
| Human Services | 31,855 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Social Workers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 67,740 | 35% |
| Advocacy | 42,357 | 22% |
| Planning | 33,142 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 32,547 | 17% |
| Management | 30,988 | 16% |
Based on 191,908 job postings related to social workers, social work was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 58% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for case management, mental health, psychology, human services and crisis intervention were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for social workers, followed by advocacy, planning, coordinating, management and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 110,865 | 58% |
| Case Management | 70,248 | 37% |
| Mental Health | 39,954 | 21% |
| Psychology | 36,106 | 19% |
| Human Services | 31,855 | 17% |
| Crisis Intervention | 31,254 | 16% |
| Treatment Planning | 28,335 | 15% |
| Discharge Planning | 24,266 | 13% |
| Medical Records | 17,324 | 9% |
| Behavioral Health | 17,129 | 9% |
| Psychosocial Assessments | 15,792 | 8% |
| Substance Abuse | 13,674 | 7% |
| Disabilities | 13,561 | 7% |
| Care Coordination | 13,419 | 7% |
| Psychiatry | 12,711 | 7% |
| Trauma Care | 12,590 | 7% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 12,070 | 6% |
| Child Welfare | 11,670 | 6% |
| Sociology | 11,657 | 6% |
| Rehabilitation | 10,956 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 67,740 | 35% |
| Advocacy | 42,357 | 22% |
| Planning | 33,142 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 32,547 | 17% |
| Management | 30,988 | 16% |
| Writing | 25,586 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 24,334 | 13% |
| Leadership | 20,795 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 18,492 | 10% |
| Multilingualism | 18,419 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 17,292 | 9% |
| Customer Service | 16,527 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 16,405 | 9% |
| English Language | 16,141 | 8% |
| Time Management | 15,547 | 8% |
| Organizational Skills | 15,307 | 8% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 14,924 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 14,111 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 13,540 | 7% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 12,973 | 7% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Social Workers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Workers | 77,109 | 30.1% |
| Case Managers | 51,208 | 20% |
| School Social Workers | 17,029 | 6.6% |
| Medical Social Workers | 15,129 | 5.9% |
| Hospice Medical Social Workers | 10,494 | 4.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was social workers, with 25,319 unique job postings. Case managers were second, with 5,967 postings, followed by school social workers, medical social workers and hospice medical social workers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to social workers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Workers | 77,109 | 30.1% |
| Case Managers | 51,208 | 20% |
| School Social Workers | 17,029 | 6.6% |
| Medical Social Workers | 15,129 | 5.9% |
| Hospice Medical Social Workers | 10,494 | 4.1% |
| Licensed Clinical Social Workers | 10,558 | 4.1% |
| Caseworkers | 6,569 | 2.6% |
| Family Advocates | 5,442 | 2.1% |
| Hospice Social Workers | 9,330 | 3.6% |
| Licensed Medical Social Workers | 7,731 | 3% |
| Licensed Social Workers | 11,508 | 4.5% |
| Family Support Specialists | 4,428 | 1.7% |
| Social Workers/Case Managers | 4,904 | 1.9% |
| Housing Case Managers | 3,396 | 1.3% |
| Bilingual Case Managers | 3,930 | 1.5% |
| Foster Care Case Managers | 3,230 | 1.3% |
| Social Work Case Managers | 3,172 | 1.2% |
| Family Case Managers | 3,442 | 1.3% |
| Personal Injury Case Managers | 4,543 | 1.8% |
| Licensed Master Social Workers | 2,989 | 1.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for social workers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for social workers.
How much do social workers make?
Social Workers: How do you become one?
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