Deadline extended for Social Work Census

To date, more than 52,000 social workers have participated in the Social Work Census, a major workforce study and practice analysis for the social work profession. That total number includes approximately 17,000 people who have submitted completed surveys and another 35,000 individuals who have begun responses and saved their progress. To maximize opportunities for participation in the Census, ASWB has decided to extend the initial deadline by a full month, to June 30, 2024.

“We want to reach as many social workers as we can for this historic undertaking,” says ASWB Chief Executive Officer Stacey Hardy-Chandler, Ph.D., JD, LCSW, PGDip. “We know spring is a very busy time of year and that the Census is a significant investment of social workers’ time. We hope the extension will provide many more members of our profession the opportunity to participate in the Census.”

Developed in conjunction with the Social Work Workforce Coalition, the Social Work Census aims to be the largest workforce study ever conducted of social work in the United States and Canada. The data from this survey will be aggregated and used to develop a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of who social workers are and what they do.

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

• The first section is a workforce study that asks for information about social workers’ education, employment, licensure, and demographics/intersectionality. Results will be 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 will be used to build the blueprint for the next iteration of the social work licensing competence assessments.

Social workers who complete the Census will be eligible to receive two free continuing education credits and designate a $1 donation to one of 13 social work or social work-aligned nonprofits selected by the Social Work Workforce Coalition.