Are there jobs for social workers today or is the situation impossible? Despite state and federal cuts, there are still many options for working with the public which include mental health clinics, va hospitals, hospices and working with troubled teens. Some of these positions may not be that high paying due to the budget cuts.

Those who love social work but can’t find work may turn to voluntary work; this can avoid having those gaps in work history that employers don’t like. Voluntary work may also open the doors for new positions, when people start hiring again and you’ve been a good and regular volunteer, you may be the first person they consider hiring.

The baby boomers are now at the point where they need extra care, and many private nursing homes and senior care facilities are looking to hire social workers as the population increases in these facilities. Many older people refuse to leave their own homes to go into senior care and many are willing to spend their savings being cared for at home in their twilight years. There are a number of private companies that have been started recently that do hire social workers as part of their care teams.

Today there are over 8000 openings for social workers within the federal government and many of these openings are within the Veterans Administration. With thousands of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan the number of openings is increasing. If you have a master’s degree obviously you have a better chance of securing a well-paying position, and if you have a bachelor’s degree it may be time to think about taking a master’s. These job openings are in all states, and many pay great salaries but of course it’s very difficult to sell a house and pull up roots. Many unemployed social workers are willing to move to where the jobs are.

The economy is going through a period of great change – many jobs that our parents did all their lives no longer exist. But our parents need care as they age, and with a poor economy there’s sadly a problem that continues with theft and drug abuse. There will always be jobs available for good qualified social workers.