Social Work Census data

The Social Work Census is a large-scale survey of the social work profession in the United States and Canada. The data from this survey was aggregated for use in developing a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of who social workers are and what they do.

Social worker responses are completely confidential and were merged with the responses of other social workers and social service workers.

The census has two sections, and the data from each serves different purposes.

• The first section is a workforce study that asks for information about social workers’ education, employment, licensure, and demographics/intersectionality. Results are being shared with the profession to help build an understanding of the social work workforce.
• The second section is a practice analysis that asks about the knowledge needed to practice social work safely and ethically at entry to practice. Results were used to build the blueprint for the 2026 social work licensing examinations.