Where The Jobs Are

The majority of social work jobs are funded directly or indirectly by governments – municipal, provincial or federal. Some social workers work for agencies funded by voluntary donations. Job settings include family and child welfare agencies, hospitals and other health care facilities, group homes and hostels, addiction treatment facilities, social assistance offices where social workers provide help to individuals, families and small groups.

Community organizers work out of settlement houses, community centres and grassroots social action organizations.

Social workers specializing in social policy and planning are usually employed in government ministries or departments or in voluntary associations such as planning councils.

Research is carried out from universities, government departments and in some of the large social agencies and institutions.

A growing number of social workers are self-employed, offering services directly to the public for fees, or contracting their services to large organizations.