Objectives: The overarching objective of this study was to collect, compile, analyze, and interpret data on social workers (i.e., licensed social workers with either an MSW or BSW degree) in the U.S. to help the profession plan for the future.

Program Dates: March 2004 - March 2006

Staff: Paul Wing (Program Manager), Bonnie Cohen, Sandra McGinnis

Components: This study, which was a collaborative effort with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), included several components:
A survey of a stratified random sample of 10,000 licensed social workers from across the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey included several components, a basic component completed by all respondents, a supplement on social workers serving older adults, and a supplement on social workers serving children and adolescents.

Interviews and discussions with social workers to gather qualitative insights about the nature of the work they perform, attitudes about the profession, and the job market for social workers.

Reports/Presentations: The study produced several reports:

An initial report for the March 2005 Social Work Congress

A full report to NASW on all respondents to the survey:
Wing P, Cohen BP, and McGinnis S. Licensed Social Workers in the U.S., 2004. Rensselaer, NY: Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, SUNY Albany. February 2006.
Full report:sw2006.zip(318 KB)

A supplementary report to NASW on the survey:
McGinnis S, Cohen BP, and Wing P. Licensed Social Workers in the U.S., 2004: Supplementary Report. Rensselaer, NY: Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health, SUNY Albany. January 2006.
Full report:sw2006s.zip(508 KB MB)

Reports on each of the social work specialties represented in the survey instrument. These reports are available on the NASW website.

A fully documented data base of the responses to the survey for NASW.

An article for a peer-reviewed journal.

Sponsors: National Association of Social Workers, John A. Hartford Foundation, Atlantic Philanthropies, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Annie E. Casey Foundation.