Preliminary Findings & Publications

We have done an environmental scan to identify social work employers across Alberta. This has included employers from every sector, including for profit, non-profit, public and private sectors, and some in between. We have also developed a data bank of hiring criteria identified in current job descriptions posted by these agencies, including skills.

• There are over 800 organizations in Alberta that employ social workers.
• These organizations span rural and urban​ settings, and are represented by public, non-profit, and private organizations.
• There were over 200 job listings for social workers at the time of our scan.
• 22% of job descriptions asked specifically for a Registered Social Worker​ (RSW).
• The levels of education required varied across job postings.
• Social justice was mentioned in only 10% of job postings; advocacy was mentioned as a duty in only 11% of jobs.​
• The average starting salary for jobs requiring an MSW was $44.22 / hour, there was a $10 difference for jobs requiring a BSW, and a $20 difference for jobs requiring diplomas. ​