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High-Growth Careers in the Social Work Field

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Professionals in search of a fulfilling career in addition to success and job security have long been drawn to social work as a top choice. Social work careers have a lot to offer, such as the opportunity to impact lives, give back to your community, further social justice issues and much more. Today, social work job growth far outpaces the national average.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 8% growth in employment for all community and social service occupations between 2022 and 2032, which is about three times the national average. Of all 22 job fields tracked by the BLS, community and social services ranks fourth for expected growth.1

With a 7% increase in job openings predicted this decade, careers in social work can expect about 63,800 open positions per year through 2032.2 These open roles are likely to exist in a variety of environments, with the current top employers of social workers including individual and family service organizations, local and state governments, educational services and rehabilitation centers.2

Many societal factors contribute to the projected expansion of careers in the social work field. Below, learn more about the circumstances influencing this growth.

Factors Driving Social Work Job Growth

What’s causing this rapid expansion in social work careers? The growth of America’s aging population is one major factor. By 2032, people aged 65 and older are expected to make up 25.2% of the overall U.S. population, with 11.8% of the nation aged 75 and older.1 This is expected to lead to an increased need for geriatric services, including more jobs for palliative care social workers and elder care social workers.

The growth of substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic is another contributing factor. In 2021, a reported 2.5 million people experienced opioid use disorder, and roughly 1 in 10 had alcohol use disorder.1 This has led to a sharp increase in demand for counselors and social workers who specialize in mental health and substance abuse across the U.S.

Finally, the recent increase in the number of people seeking mental healthcare has also spurred the growth of careers in the social work field. Between 2004 and 2022, the percentage of Americans seeing a mental health expert on a regular basis increased from 13% to 23%, largely due to efforts to destigmatize therapy, generational shifts toward mental health and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.1 With mental health systems struggling to meet demand, growth in openings for social workers specializing in mental health support and counseling is also expected to rise.

While job growth is expected across the social work occupation, some areas of the field are expanding faster than others. Keep reading to learn about the fastest growing social worker career paths.

Growing Careers in Social Work

Mental Health Social Work

Social workers who specialize in mental health provide support to clients who are facing emotional and psychological challenges. Depending on their specific role, these professionals may provide counseling, collaborate with medical professionals, help clients find mental health resources and more.

Social work job growth in the area of mental health is even higher than growth in the overall occupation, with an overall 11% increase in mental health social work jobs expected across the U.S. by 2032.3 In the state of Montana, job openings are expected to surpass the national rate at 12%.3 Wondering how to become a social worker specializing in mental health? You’ll need to earn an MSW as well as meet the additional requirements for licensing in your state.

Annual Salary: $52,4904

Mental health counselors work with clients to promote psychological wellness and build happier lives. These counselors may support clients with a range of mental health concerns, or they may specialize in areas such as trauma processing, stress management, aging and more. The job outlook for mental health counselors is strong, with a projected 21% increase in job openings in the state of Montana through 2030.5

Substance Abuse Social Work

Substance abuse social workers support individuals with substance use disorder. They may work in private therapy clinics, rehabilitation centers, medical facilities and other environments. Social workers who specialize in substance abuse need training to treat substance use disorder, so educational requirements for this area of the field include earning an MSW as well as additional certification or licensing, which may vary by state.

Substance abuse is another quickly growing area of social work, with an 11% increase in jobs expected across the U.S. this decade, amounting to approximately 9,500 openings per year.3 Montana again tops the national projection with a 12% increase in demand for substance abuse social workers expected in the state.3

Annual Salary: $52,4906

Substance abuse counselors treat clients who have substance use disorder in relation to alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine, and other substances. In some cases, they may also treat other addictions, such as gambling. Demand for substance abuse counselors is growing at a fast pace, with a 21% increase in job openings projected in the state of Montana by 2030.7

Family, Child and School Social Work

Family, child and school social workers specialize in supporting the well-being of children and their families. They may collaborate with teachers, assist in adoptions, place children in foster care, and provide other necessary services. Social worker career paths in this area require at least a bachelor’s degree and can include foster care social worker, case manager, youth services specialist, family service worker and more. Earning an MSW can help you advance to leadership positions.

The job outlook for family, child and school social workers is projected to grow faster than average at a rate of 5% between 2022 and 2032, amounting to about 29,500 job openings per year across the U.S.8 This is another area of social work in which job growth in Montana is outpacing the national average, with an expected 11% increase in employment.8

Annual Salary: $47,0709

School social workers support children in an educational setting by intervening when they suspect abuse or neglect, ensuring children have the resources they need and working with teachers to identify students who need extra support. Employment of social workers in K-12 schools is expected to see average job growth in the next decade, but social work openings in colleges and universities are projected to increase between 4% and 6%, which is faster than average.10

Healthcare Social Work

Healthcare social workers help individuals and families access the health resources they need and provide psychosocial support to cope with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. This includes mental health therapy, case management, health interventions and more. Healthcare social workers also make referrals for other services and work to remove barriers to care for their clients.

Social workers specializing in healthcare can expect job growth that’s much faster than average over the next decade, with a projected 10% increase in open positions between 2022 and 2032 — about 18,700 openings each year.11 In Montana, the projected growth is slightly higher at 11%.11 Employment as a healthcare social worker requires an MSW as well as the correct certification or license. In many states, healthcare social workers must pass the licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) exam.

Annual Salary: $66,35012

Licensed clinical social workers provide clients with mental health therapy as well as support in accessing resources to improve their lives. This can include helping individuals access healthcare, find affordable housing, apply for public assistance and more. Common employers of licensed clinical social workers include hospitals, medical clinics and rehabilitation centers.

Geriatric Social Work

Social workers who specialized in geriatric services provide a wide range of support for aging individuals. This may include providing case management, intervening in elder abuse, assisting with end-of-life planning and more. Roles in this area of the field include palliative care social worker, elder care social worker, nursing home social worker and several others. Social workers in geriatrics are typically employed by hospitals, hospice centers, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers.

With a projected population of 82 million people over the age of 65 by 2050 and more older adults living alone than ever before, the U.S. faces a gap in elder care.13 Experts expect job growth for caretakers, including geriatric social workers, to increase with rising need.

Annual Salary: $55,70014

Social workers employed in long-term care facilities provide a range of support to aging individuals and their families. They ensure clients are receiving the care they need, communicate with family members, collaborate with facility staff and keep clients safe by watching for signs of abuse and neglect. Between 2022 and 2032, a 5% increase in positions for social workers is expected in nursing and residential care facilities.10 In continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities, job growth projections are even higher at 10%.10

Veteran and Military Social Work

Veterans and members of the military have needs that require specialized care from professionals who understand the strains of military service as well as the benefits available to those who have served. Depending on their specific career path, veteran and military social workers may provide direct mental health counseling to service members, assist veterans in accessing their benefits, help members of the military find affordable housing or provide other forms of support.

Annual Salary: $58,3802

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest employer of social workers in the U.S., with more than 20,000 MSW-prepared social workers currently on staff.15 In the VA, social workers have the opportunity to work in a variety of programs and provide many types of services, including mental health, palliative care, long-term care, suicide prevention, caregiver support and homelessness intervention.

Take the Next Step in Your Social Work Career

Be better prepared to advance in a high-growth area of social work by applying to the University of Montana’s online MSW program. Learning in flexible online courses, you’ll explore a curriculum that emphasizes integrated practice, trauma-informed care and social justice. You can graduate in just three years with the educational requirements to pursue a clinical social worker license* and honor the dignity and worth of each client you serve.

UM’s program is CSWE-accredited and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best School for Social Work.16 Request more information about this 100% online MSW today.

Disclaimer and Sources

*Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) requirements vary by state. Check the Social Work License Map to learn more about requirements in your state.

  1. Rieley, Michael. “Projected employment growth for community and social service occupations, 2022–32.” Beyond the Numbers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Feb. 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-13/projected-employment-growth-for-community-and-social-service.htm.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Social Workers.” April 17, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm.
  3. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Employment Trends: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1023.00?st=MT.
  4. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Wages: Mental Health Counselors.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/21-1014.00?st=MT.
  5. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Employment Trends: Mental Health Counselors.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1014.00?st=MT.
  6. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Wages: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/21-1011.00?st=MT.
  7. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Employment Trends: Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1011.00?st=MT.
  8. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Employment Trends: Child, Family, and School Social Workers.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1021.00?st=MT.
  9. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Wages: Child, Family, and School Social Workers.” Retrieved July 11 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/21-1021.00?st=MT.
  10. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Projections: Social Workers, all other.” Retrieved July 11, 2024 from https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=21-1029&ioType=o.
  11. O*NET OnLine. “Montana Employment Trends: Healthcare Social Workers.” Retrieved July 16 from https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/21-1022.00?st=MT.
  12. Payscale. “Average Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) Salary.” Retrieved July 16 from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Licensed_Clinical_Social_Worker_(LCSW)/Salary.
  13. Mather, Mark and Scommegna, Paola. “Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States.” Population Reference Bureau. Jan. 9, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024 from https://www.prb.org/resources/fact-sheet-aging-in-the-united-states/.
  14. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates NAICS 623000 – Nursing and Residential Care Facilities.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. April 3, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024 from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics3_623000.htm.
  15. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Career as a VA social worker.” National Social Work Program. Retrieved July 16, 2024 from https://www.socialwork.va.gov/VA_Employment.asp.
  16. U.S. News and World Report. “Best Schools for Social Work.” Retrieved July 2, 2024 from https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings.

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