Social Assistance, Except Child Daycare Training

Many employers prefer social and human service assistants with some related work experience or college courses in human services, social work, or one of the social or behavioral sciences. Other employers prefer an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in human services or social work. A number of employers provide in-service training, such as seminars and workshops.

Entry-level jobs for social workers require a bachelor's degree in social work or in an undergraduate major such as psychology or sociology. However, most agencies require a master's degree in social work or a closely related field. Public agencies and private practice clinics that offer clinical or consultative services require an advanced degree in clinical social work; supervisory, administrative, and staff training positions usually require at least a master's degree.

Table 3. Employment of wage and salary workers in social assistance, except child daycare, by occupation, 2002 and projected change, 2002-12
(Employment in thousands)
Occupation	Employment, 2002		Percent change,2002- 2012
Occupation	Number	Percent	Percent change,2002- 2012
All occupations	1,269	100.0	47.1
Management, business, and financial occupations	145	11.4	46.6
Top executives	31	2.4	43.0
Operations specialties managers	18	1.4	47.3
Social and community service managers	31	2.4	45.2
Human resources, training, and labor relations specialists	20	1.6	49.2
Professional and related occupations	443	34.9	53.4
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors	13	1.0	38.0
Educational, vocational, and school counselors	19	1.5	41.0
Mental health counselors	17	1.3	43.1
Rehabilitation counselors	45	3.5	50.5
Social workers	81	6.4	48.0
Social and human service assistants	88	6.9	78.9
Primary, secondary, and special education teachers	22	1.7	37.6
Other teachers and instructors	23	1.8	57.5
Teacher assistants	21	1.6	40.0
Registered nurses	14	1.1	44.4
Service occupations	391	30.8	51.5
Home health aides	79	6.2	40.4
Cooks and food preparation workers	19	1.5	30.8
Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners	27	2.1	44.0
Child care workers	24	1.9	43.6
Personal and home care aides	146	11.5	67.8
Recreation workers	16	1.3	43.2
Sales and related occupations	18	1.4	43.2
Office and administrative support occupations	164	12.9	25.2
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks	17	1.3	24.5
Receptionists and information clerks	17	1.3	45.2
Secretaries and administrative assistants	44	3.5	19.4
Office clerks, general	34	2.7	27.8
Production occupations	34	2.7	42.4
Transportation and material moving occupations	62	4.9	35.9
Motor vehicle operators	31	2.4	38.4
Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand	21	1.7	27.2
NOTE: May not add to totals due to omission of occupations with small employment.

Volunteering with a student, religious, or charitable organization is a good way for persons to test their interest in social assistance, and may provide an advantage when applying for jobs in this industry.

Advancement paths vary. For example, some personal and home care aides as well as some nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants, and home health aides get additional training and become licensed practical nurses. Formal education—usually a bachelor's or master's degree in counseling, human services, rehabilitation, social work, or a related field—almost always is necessary in order for social and human service assistants to advance. Social workers with an advanced degree and the appropriate license can advance to supervisor, program manager, assistant director, or executive director of an agency or department. They also may enter private practice and provide psychotherapeutic counseling and other services on a contract basis.


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