National Occupational Classification (NOC): 41300
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
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Sample Job Titles
- Co-ordinator of social work
- Family social worker
- Group social worker
- Medical social worker
- Psychiatric social worker
- Social work supervisor
- School social worker
What do social workers do?
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.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Social workers work primarily in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 624 Social assistance
- 912 Provincial and territorial public administration
- 622 Hospitals
- 621 Ambulatory health care services
- 623 Nursing and residential care facilities
- 911 Federal government public administration
- 813 Religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be moderate for social workers in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 3 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Social workers belong to the broader occupational group 4130, 4131 (social and community service professionals). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.4 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply should be able to meet anticipated job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 238 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 40% | Western: 26% |
| Eastern: 9% | Labrador: 13% |
| Central: 11% | NL-unspecified: 1% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 1,185 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 14% of those employed were Male+ and 86% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 5% | 82% | 10% | 3% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do social workers make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all social workers in the reference year 2020 (1,225 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $78,00.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for social workers in Newfoundland and Labrador:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $35.00 | $39.01 | $47.00 |
Salary information for social workers in Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $24.04 | $37.00 | $48.00 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Social Work
- Mental Health
- Case Management
- Crisis Intervention
- Medical Assistance
- Trauma Care
- Psychology
- Program Development
- Child Protection
- Clinical Leadership
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
- 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 practice as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.
- 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.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.