Job prospects Registered Social Worker in British Columbia

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered social worker" in British Columbia or across Canada.

Job opportunities in British Columbia

These outlooks were updated on December 11, 2024.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Social workers (NOC 41300) in British Columbia for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.
• High employee turnover in this occupation could lead to additional employment opportunities.

The demand for services delivered by this occupation increases with population growth. Demand is particularly high in regions with high population growth, such the Lower Mainland and Okanagan. Lower immigration targets may have an impact on population growth, reducing demand for new services in the long term.

Here are some key facts about Social workers in British Columbia:

• Approximately 6,700 people work in this occupation.
• Social workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 32%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 22%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 19%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 7%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 87% compared to 78% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 13% compared to 22% for all occupations
• 77% of social workers work all year, while 23% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of social workers are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 15% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 85% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 13% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 5% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 57% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 35% compared to 12% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in British Columbia by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as a "registered social worker" Social workers (NOC 41300) or across Canada.

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