During the coronavirus pandemic, social workers emerged as frontline soldiers against this disease. They fought the socioeconomic ramifications of this deadly disease in society. While healthcare practitioners were engaged in treating patients, social workers fought the injustices made apparent by this pandemic. They helped marginalized communities access the required health-related services, thereby allowing the underprivileged to overcome cultural, racial/ethnic, and gender-based inequalities.
Social workers today serve both individuals and communities to enhance their well-being. Thus, educational qualifications in this academic discipline are well-accepted in different professions. Let’s explain it further here.
Careers for modern-day social workers
We’ve maintained how social workers proved integral to our national well-being. Statistics indicate the demand for social services will grow by 12% this decade, thus showing how social workers may soon become heavily sought-after. Therefore, the Department of Labor expects 75,000+ additions by 2024 to this discipline! It means that social workers can find different employment opportunities after obtaining their degrees. But what sort of jobs are available to you after graduating? We’ve compiled here some of the employment opportunities you may get after attaining your bachelor’s in this discipline. So, carefully consider your options. Read about these jobs and decide what you want to do after graduating now:
1.Domestic violence social worker
Domestic violence remains frequent in American households. It’s estimated that a close family member has abused one-fourth of men and one-third of women. Now, you can pursue your career as a domestic violence social worker to help people living in abusive relationships. So, students can attain this degree online to become active on behalf of domestic violence victims. This degree shows you how to identify unhealthy relationships and the discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people today.
2.Substance abuse counselor
During the pandemic, SUD became rampant in society. Substance abuse counselors help addicts get treatment and recover from their cravings. These social workers help people and organizations remain in long-term sobriety after recovery and prevent post-recovery relapse. Also, addicts damage their previous relationships, which substance abuse counselors manage to restore after recovery. So, you can enter a very rapidly-growing profession by earning your social work degree digitally today.
3.Foster-care social worker
When laypeople imagine social workers, they envisage some people working for children’s well-being. We call them foster-care social workers who advocate for children living away from their families. In foster homes, children require qualified social workers to ensure their protection. You may also call them “case managers” since they evaluate foster families, place and monitor children, and ascertain the child stays safe with their adoptive parents. They’re making $40,000+ annually today on average.
4.Probation officer
You can combine your expertise with criminal justice and become a probation officer. This job deals with reforming repeat offenders and helping them become law-abiding citizens. Your duties will also include assisting criminals in receiving treatment and rehabilitation. Social workers will supervise the progress of these offenders to make sure they’re getting further away from a criminal lifestyle. This job’s both exciting and lucrative for younger students over $55,000 each year on average in 2022.
5.Medical social worker
Medical social workers engage in diverse issues that include public health, inpatient/outpatient care, or even treating mental disorders (explained below). You may find yourself obtaining your degree in social work and then getting a job in geriatric (taking care of senior citizens) and palliative (relieving pain instead of curing the disease). So, these jobs place in various medical settings. You can increase your experience by working with different patients and gaining further specializations.
6.Mental health counselor
Mental health issues aren’t uncommon in the country right now. Statistics indicate that every fifth American’s living with a mental disorder. Mental health therapists and counselors can help patients regulate these conditions. During the pandemic, this profession’s become more sought-after among students. So, rehab centers employ social workers to assist patients in inpatient/outpatient programs. They earn over $40,000 each year, but this figure increases with their experience.
7.School social worker
Similarly, school social workers treat children suffering from mental health problems. In 2020, some studies showed that 20% of American children are diagnosed with mental disorders. Therefore, we need more school social workers to coordinate with these students and empower them in learning. This opportunity allows social workers to combine their mental health expertise with academia. You can help school admins enhance juvenile education and make it more acceptable for our children.
8.HR specialist
This vocation’s not customarily created for social workers, but your degree enables you to provide a similar branch of services. HR specialists ensure the workplace remains a sustainable environment for employees. Social workers strive to end discrimination and harassment at the workplace. Their actions lead to creating a peaceful, productive, and comfortable working environment. HR coordinators are paid more than $50,000 annually for their services.
9.Policy analyst
You don’t necessarily have to work with patients since many social workers have found employment opportunities as policymakers as well. So, you can take a broader approach and address social issues at the policy level. As policy analysts, social workers advocate for reforms to pave the way for better health/learning-related options for the underprivileged. These experts earn over $58,000 each year on average. Their decisions influence the well-being of laypeople and boost their lifestyles drastically.
10.Social work professor
Today, you can also impart your expertise to students among social workers. Universities always hire doctorate-holding social workers for teaching positions since these experienced professionals can train future students. However, these positions aren’t available for social workers who haven’t earned a doctorate in this discipline. Moreover, you can make 68,000+ on average each year being a professor. It’s a prestigious arrangement that allows you to participate more in academic research.
Conclusion
Social workers have been integrated into different departments within the American government today. Statistics indicate that 680,000 social workers were employed across the United States in 2016, and most of them specialized in helping children and families. So, which jobs can you get after obtaining a degree in social work? You can work with children, families, and even patients who need professional assistance for their well-being. This degree also helps you become a policy analyst, a probation officer, or even an HR specialist/coordinator. How about pursuing a career as a professor teaching this discipline to others! You may work in the health industry or help domestic violence victims escape aggressive households.