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Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to provide the first national profile of the licensed social work workforce by practice category. Method: Based on a sample of 39,456 licensed social workers from the 2024 Workforce Survey, descriptive analyses examined their composition and detailed characteristics. Results: The estimated licensed workforce comprised 59% Clinical, 30% Masters, 4.53% Advanced Generalists, and 6.45% Bachelors social workers. Most positions required or preferred a social work degree and licensure. Approximately 26% of clinical social workers were self-employed. Masters social workers practiced in various settings with a focus on mental health services. Advanced Generalists often worked as administrators or program managers, while Bachelors social workers mostly worked in nonmental health settings. The median earnings for full-time, year-round licensed social workers were $67,980 for Masters, $76,220 for Advanced Generalist, and $82,400 for Clinical social workers. Conclusions: The results call for regular workforce studies to better inform stakeholders’ workforce development efforts.

Keywords

social work workforce licensed social workers social work jobs social work practice workforce survey

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The Licensed Social Work Workforce From the 2024 Social Work Workforce Survey

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