The SWRB’s Annual Social Worker Workforce Report 2024 and Annual Social Work Education Report 2023 have been published today. They provide unique insights into social work education and the social worker workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Annual Social Worker Workforce Report 2024 is based on information from the annual social worker workforce survey which is completed by social workers as they renew their practising certificates. The Annual Social Work Education Report 2023 is based on information from the Tertiary Education Commission as well information directly from the tertiary education institutions offering SWRB-prescribed social work qualifications in 2023.
Findings from the reports indicate:
- Workforce sustainability needs attention across the sector. Numbers of ākonga are declining at the same time as more social workers approach retirement. More social workers are predicted to leave the profession in the next five years than are predicted to join.
- The social worker workforce is female dominated with relatively high representation of Māori and Pacific Peoples. A similar demographic is seen in those enrolled on social work programmes. In addition, it is an ageing workforce.
- Enrolments in social work programmes continue to decline. Current numbers are the lowest since 2013. The attrition rate – the rate of ākonga (students) leaving before completing their qualification – remains high, in some cases up to 50%.
- The employment landscape is changing, with higher salaries, more part-time working and a greater number of social workers working in health settings. The benefits of pay equity are beginning to be seen with social workers reporting higher, more equitable salaries. Proportionately more social workers who responded to the workforce survey are working in health settings, and fewer employed directly by Oranga Tamariki.
- Social workers are keen to develop their skills in managing complexity and social work practice with Māori and other ethnic and cultural groups.
- Social workers remain passionate about their work – the difference they make for individuals, whānau and communities.
The reports highlight opportunities and challenges in the workforce. It will require a cross-system approach to tackling those challenges to ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand has enough social workers who are safe, competent and culturally responsive, to meet future demands. As lead agency for social worker workforce planning, we will be sharing these reports with the range of organisations who together hold the key to building a sustainable workforce. We look forward to working with them as they develop solutions to address current pressures.
The reports can be found on our publications page: