Research Review - Varying Estimates of Social Workers in the United States: Which Data Source to Use?
Understanding the complexities of the behavioral health workforce in the United States is crucial, especially as demand for services continues to grow. Social workers are an essential member of the behavioral health workforce, yet they are often overlooked in workforce data estimates due to the diverse nature and scope of their practice. Without a definitive workforce data source for social workers, there remains a significant challenge in understanding and projecting the workforce needed to meet the demand. Recently, our colleagues Brianna Lombardi, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, and Erin Fraher with the Coalition for Social Work and Health published a comprehensive analysis of five widely utilized national behavioral health workforce data sources, titled Varying Estimates of Social Workers in the United States: Which Data Source to Use?
These data sources include:
The American Community Survey (ACS)
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational and Employment Wage Statistics
National Plan and Provider Enumeration System
State licensure data
Educational program data
This analysis sheds light on the challenges and variability in current social work workforce data collection and reporting practices. Highlighting the strengths and limitations of each data source demonstrates a need for standardized and reliable data to effectively address the evolving behavioral health needs of our communities. Addressing this data gap is crucial for informing policy, guiding educational programs, and ensuring that patients receive adequate support across all communities.
We at the Coalition for Social Work and Health will continue to monitor social work workforce data publications and advocate for the creation and adoption of accurate, standardized, and reliable data sources.
Lombardi, B., de Saxe Zerden, L., & Fraher, E. (2024). Varying estimates of social workers in the United States: Which data source to use? Medical Care Research and Review, 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587241257983
To learn more, check out the original article here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10.1177/10775587241257983
CHaSCI manages the Coalition for Social Work and Health. To learn more about the Coalition’s work elevating and expanding social work’s impact in improving health and healthcare, visit www.socialworkandhealth.org