Alyssa
How competitive is the social work field?
Hi, I'm Alyssa. I was wondering how competitive the social work field is because I'm hoping to study social work in college. Are there a lot of job openings in this field? #social-work
3 answers
Carmen Merrill
Carmen’s Answer
Social work is a growing field (at the national level) and it doesn't feel competitive because being kind and supportive of each other is in our nature! Plus, people with social work degrees work in a variety of jobs; CEO's, program directors, adoption agents and grant writers can all be social workers. Many social workers have a few issues they feel strongly about and focus on their specialty. So, every social worker isn't applying to the same job. All these factors cause competition to go down.
That being said, competition depends on the job market in your area. Social workers often work with people in poverty. If that is not an issue that your local government or the community is concerned with, then there might be fewer jobs available. Also, social workers gain a lot of experience through volunteer work and internships. If you're not able to give your time for free, you won't have the advantage of some of your colleagues when you seek a job. However, during college, you will hear many and inspiring stories about how busy people overcome these challenges!
Angela Chan
Angela’s Answer
I'm based in CA and the field is competitive. There are plenty of social work jobs and there are lots of talented social workers applying for them. Like other fields, employers are looking for the best employee to fill their vacancies. I encourage you to study what you are passionate about, get some hands on experience through internships, volunteering and talk with lots of people to learn what they enjoy about their ob and what they find challenging. Once you find your niche, you'll be fine.
