Social Work Statistics

What does it take to be a social worker? To be a clinically licensed practitioner in the United States, you will need a Master of Social Work degree. If you are considering becoming a clinical social worker, consider some intriguing social work statistics that reinforce the future potential of this rewarding industry.

Some interesting social work statistics include:

• According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), professional social workers are the nation’s largest group of mental health services providers. There are more clinically trained social workers—over 200,000—than psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses combined.
• Nearly 80 percent of all social workers are female, while men make up around 20 percent of the field.
• Also, around 68 percent of all social workers in the U.S. are between the ages of 43 and 62.
• About 20 percent of all social work clinicians have at least 25 years of experience in the field, while 9 percent are burgeoning practitioners, with less than five years in practice.
• Social workers held about 649,300 jobs in 2014. The largest employers of social workers were as follows: State and local government, excluding education and hospitals (29%), Individual and family services (18%), ambulatory healthcare services (13%), hospitals; state, local, and private (11%), and nursing and residential care facilities (9%)

The opportunities.

Employment of social workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, faster than the average for all occupations. Employment growth will be driven by increased demand for healthcare and social services, but will vary by specialty.

• Employment of child, family, and school social workers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2014 to 2024
• Employment of healthcare social workers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024
• Employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers is projected to grow 19 percent from 2014 to 2024

Take advantage of the opportunity and be a part of this rewarding field by graduating with your MSW from the top social work program in the state of Florida. Florida State University was the first university in the nation to offer an online social work degree where the majority of the courses are online and available to many residents outside of Florida including Alabama, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Florida State University’s online MSW program offers a supportive environment where you gain the chance to establish a career network of students and faculty.

Know your field and get first hand experience earning your MSW. Enroll in Florida State University's Online Master's in Social Work program (whether you hold your B.S.W. or another bachelor's degree), and embark on a journey of helping others while creating future potential in a rewarding and fulfilling career path.