Job prospects Social Worker in Ontario

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

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be good for Social workers (NOC 41300) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• These professionals provide services in a variety of settings. A high proportion work in individual and family services, and to a lesser extent, in hospitals

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• The social needs of a growing and aging population will support demand for these professionals in the forecast period
• Significant government investments in mental health and addiction services

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Social work is regulated by the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, and only licensed members can use the title of ‘social worker.’

Here are some key facts about Social workers in Ontario:

• Approximately 22,750 people work in this occupation.
• Social workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Social assistance (NAICS 624): 44%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 17%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 9%
  • Nursing and residential care facilities (NAICS 623): 6%
  • Local, municipal, regional, aboriginal and other public administration (NAICS 913-919): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 89% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 11% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 76% of social workers work all year, while 24% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 46 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• 7% of social workers are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 14% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 86% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: less than 5% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 6% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 42% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 50% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Labour market conditions over the next 10 years

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

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