Job Prospects

• Data in the Job Prospects section are updated on a yearly basis. More up to date employment data may be available on the Statistics and Related Jobs tabs.
• Job prospects for Social Workers are good.
• Employment for Social Workers to 2014-15 is expected to grow strongly. Employment in this medium sized occupation (17 000 in November 2009) rose very strongly in the past five years, and in the long-term (ten years).
• Social Workers have an average proportion of full-time jobs (73.3 per cent). For Social Workers working full-time, average weekly hours are 35.5 (compared to 41.3 for all occupations) and earnings are above average - in the eighth decile. Unemployment for Social Workers is low.
• Social Workers are employed across several industries including: Health Care and Social Assistance; Public Administration and Safety; Other Services; and Education and Training.
• The (internet) vacancy level for Social Workers is high. The proportion of workers leaving the occupation (and needing to be replaced) is 11.4 per cent (annually) compared to the average for all occupations of 13.1 per cent.
• The mix of industries employing Social Workers is very favourable for employment growth prospects.

Key Indicators

The graph shows 12 key indicators for this occupation - employment size, full-time share of employment, earnings, unemployment, historical employment growth (long-term, medium term and short-term), future employment growth, mix of industries, job openings.