5 Social Work Trends for 2025: What They Mean for the Profession

Social work is a fast-growing profession due to the increased demand for compassionate professionals with experience in mental health, substance use treatment, and community services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), social work job positions are expected to grow by as much as 7% from 2023 to 2033. 

As the field continues to evolve and focus on issues such as family crises and trauma-informed care, education remains a meaningful way to further one’s career. Earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) is particularly useful to prepare you to adapt to rapid changes in the profession. Let’s look at how social and political changes are shaping the most important trends for 2025.

 

How a Changing World is Reshaping Social Work

Social work professionals provide services to their clients within larger political, social, and economic contexts. The fast pace of change in today’s world means there isn’t a typical day for a social worker and their clients. It is possible, however, to put social work into perspective by understanding the following macro-level shifts:

• A Focus on the Aging Population: As people age, there is an increase in the need for social workers with experience in geriatric-focused care. This prepares social workers to be better equipped to support one of the largest demographics.
• Diversity and Inclusion to Serve Communities: Our world continues to diversify, increasing the need for culturally competent social workers to effectively address each demographic’s specific needs. 
• Policy Changes and Social Challenges: Social workers must be at the forefront of addressing concerns such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, and chronic income inequality.
• Corporate Commitment to Social Work: Many companies see the need for mental health services for their workforce, which has led to the slow integration of social work services within their corporate structure to balance profit and social impact. 
• Social Work Employment Trends: Social work is a growing field with over 67,300 job openings expected by 2033, primarily due to new social workers replacing those who are retiring or changing careers in this rapidly expanding industry.

 

Social Work Trends in 2025

A three-year study of new MSW graduates found a group that was more diverse than other health professions and likely to serve people in high-need populations. Social work professionals should keep in mind what knowledge they will need to better serve these populations in the future. Here are five trends in the social work profession for the near future: 

 

1. Increased Focus on Mental Health Services

Public awareness of mental health has never been higher. This has led to increased funding and job opportunities in the field. In 2024, for example, the federal government committed $68.5 million to suicide prevention and mental health workforce development.

The corporate world has also noticed the link between employee well-being and workplace productivity, which is encouraging more mental health services in workplaces. A Gallup study estimated $322 billion in lost productivity and turnover globally caused by employee burnout. Social workers have an essential role in supporting these newfound areas where mental health is prioritized, and they can also work to create more inclusive support systems. 

 

2. Technology is Transforming the Profession

The rise of telehealth and AI-driven case management is changing how social workers operate and what tools they use on a day-to-day basis. We’re seeing technology-driven solutions that are transforming social work and reducing administrative work through the use of digital record-keeping, AI-assisted decision-making tools, and workflow automation. 

There are still concerns about client privacy, barriers to accessibility, and the ethics behind using these tools. Leaders in the profession and innovators can hopefully balance the positive impacts of these tools with client concerns about the responsible use of new technology.

 

3. Countering Burnout among Social Work Professionals

Recent support for mental health services was preceded by a long-standing shortage of attention and funding. This resource deficit has contributed to a shortage of social work professionals estimated to reach 195,000 social workers by 2030. Social workers are sometimes stretched to their limits and experience professional burnout.

High stress levels and burnout are common among social workers, so the need for self-care and professional well-being is greater than ever. Employers are implementing mental health support for social workers to address burnout and related mental health challenges. Organized activities like yoga and mindfulness exercises are increasingly common to deal with work-related stress.

 

4. Emphasis on Cultural Competency & Trauma-Informed Care

The U.S. Census Bureau found that American communities were more diverse in 2020 than in 2010 using their Diversity Index. This measurement evaluates the likelihood of two people from the same community reporting the same racial and ethnic background. Increasingly diverse communities require professionals trained to understand and demonstrate sensitivity to their clients’ cultural values.

Social work professionals will be expected to further integrate trauma-informed care into their practices in 2025. This form of care seeks an understanding of what happened in a client’s past to better treat or solve current challenges. Social workers trained in trauma-informed care prevent further trauma, achieve better outcomes, and avoid unnecessary treatment costs by fully understanding client backgrounds.

 

5. Expansion of Social Work Roles in Non-Traditional Fields

There is a growing need for mental health services in spaces where they have not been traditionally found. From corporate to educational to legal settings, social workers are becoming essential members of in-house teams. Some social workers are leaders of DEI workplace initiatives, while others are involved in criminal justice reform as forensic social workers.

Whether you’re interested in working in the criminal justice system or partnering with management teams at corporations, social work issues are at the forefront of public policy and community discussions. Social workers can prepare to lead these discussions and help their clients with MSW degrees from a leading university. Marymount University opens impactful career paths in social work with its innovative Online MSW.

 

Preparing for Social Work Careers at Marymount University

The Online MSW is the right degree for working professionals interested in changing careers. This entirely online degree can be completed in three years of part-time study. Residents of the District of Columbia and the following states can apply with bachelor’s degrees in any discipline:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

Faculty members with experience in clinical social work guide students through 60 credits of coursework. The Online MSW also requires 900 practicum hours for completion. Marymount’s placement services team works with MSW candidates to identify supervised placement opportunities close to home.

Marymount University’s proximity to Washington, D.C. means opportunities to learn from policymakers and experts. Graduates of the Online MSW benefit from Marymount’s national reputation as recognized by U.S. News & World Report. Students, alumni, and faculty also carry forward university values like service to others and intellectual curiosity.

Learn more about how earning an Online MSW at Marymount can set you on the path to a successful and fulfilling career.