Social workers

NOC
41300

help individuals, families and groups develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning. They also provide counselling, therapy and referral to other support services.

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Quick facts

3-Year Outlook

Moderate
Moderate

3-Year Job Openings

265
 

Median Hourly Wage

$35.00
$25.00
Low
$42.00
High

Average Salary

$68,100
 

Typically Required

University

Employed

2,042
 
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Job details

Full NOC Description

Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.

Main Duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
  • Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
  • Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
  • Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
  • Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
  • Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
  • Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
  • Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
  • Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs
  • May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
  • May supervise other social workers.
  • Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections, gerontology or addictions.

    • Also Known As

    • coordinator of social work
    • medical social worker
    • psychiatric social worker
    • social work supervisor
    • social worker
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    Requirements

    Employment Requirements

    A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
  • In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required.
  • Supervised practical experience is usually required.
  • Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required.
  • Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces.
  • Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.

    • Provincial Regulation

    • Provincially Regulated: Yes

    Regulation Body

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    Employment by Sex

    The following graph shows the percentage of men and women working in this occupation in New Brunswick.

    Data legend

    86.7%
    Female
    13.3%
    Male
    Employment by age

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by age group.

    Data legend

    3.0%
    15-24
    35.9%
    25-34
    27.7%
    35-44
    19.6%
    45-54
    13.0%
    55-64
    0.8%
    65+
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    Employment by highest level of education

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick by highest level of education achieved.

    Data legend

    0.0%
    No Certificate, Diploma or Degree
    0.0%
    High School, Diploma or Equivalent
    0.0%
    Apprenticeship or Trades Certificate or Diploma
    2.6%
    College or University Below Bachelor Level
    97.4%
    University - Bachelor Level or Above
    Employment by Industry

    The following graph shows the industry groups in which the largest shares of persons working in this occupation in New Brunswick are employed. Small percentages for all top three industry groups may suggest employment for this occupation is widely distributed amongst many industry groups.

    Data legend

    56.1%
    Health care and social assistance
    33.3%
    Public administration
    5.1%
    Educational services
    5.4%
    All Other Industries
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    Employment by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the breakdown of all persons employed in this occupation in New Brunswick by which economic region they reside in.

    Data legend

    29.20%
    Northeast
    25.70%
    Southeast
    18.90%
    Southwest
    17.00%
    Central
    9.20%
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Annual Average Salary by Economic Regions

    The following graph shows the average salary of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Data legend

    $69,600
    Northeast
    $66,400
    Southeast
    $69,500
    Southwest
    $68,500
    Central
    $67,000
    Northwest
    Province of New Brunswick Economic Regions

    Economic Regions

    The following map displays New Brunswick’s five economic regions. An economic region (ER) is a grouping of counties, created as a standard unit for analysis of regional economic activity across Canada.

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    Hourly Median Wages by Economic Regions

    The following represents the median hourly wage of all persons employed in this occupation in each of New Brunswick’s five economic regions.

    Northeast

    $36.54
    $26.94
    Low
    $45.00
    High

    Southeast

    $34.72
    $20.00
    Low
    $42.06
    High

    Southwest

    $35.00
    $22.00
    Low
    $39.70
    High

    Central

    $35.00
    $28.58
    Low
    $41.03
    High

    Northwest

    $35.51
    $23.48
    Low
    $41.00
    High
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    Salary

    The following shows the average salary of everyone who worked full-time and year-round in this occupation across each of the Atlantic Provinces and nationally.

    New Brunswick

    $68,100

    Newfoundland

    $82,600

    Prince Edward Island

    $79,000

    Nova Scotia

    $74,800

    Canada

    $74,000
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    Employment Outlook

    The following represents the number of job openings that are expected to occur in this occupation over the next three and ten years respectively, broken down by openings expected to result from growth (“new jobs”) and openings expected to result from attrition (death and retirements).

    Three Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 3-Year

    265
     

    New Jobs: 3-Year

    160
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 3-Year

    105
     

    Ten Year Outlook

    Total Openings: 10-Year

    712
     

    New Jobs: 10-Year

    309
     

    Retirements/Deaths: 10-Year

    404
     
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