Experts Weigh In On Current Job Market Trends
November 18, 2020
Given the change of course that has happened in the world, we wanted to provide expert opinions on what aspiring graduates can do to start off their careers in an uncertain economic climate. We wanted to know what skills will be more important, where the economy is doing relatively well, and if there will be any lasting effects on the job market.
Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the new responsibilities of the job market. Recent graduates actually have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
We spoke to professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the job market for recent graduates is heading, as well as how young graduates entering the industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our Panel of Experts
Lancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School
National Association of Social Workers
Tuskegee University
North Carolina State University
Gallaudet University
UNLV School of Social Work
NYU Silver School of Social Work
Millikin University
Portland State University
Dine College
Park University
Southern Connecticut State University
Lewis-Clark State College
Carthage College
Union University
Vanguard University of Southern California
Manchester University
Oberlin College
UNLV School of Social Work
Dr. Kurt Miller
Assistant Professor, Social Work Program DirectorLancaster Bible College | Capital Seminary & Graduate School
Social Work Program
WebsiteWhat type of skills will young graduates need when they enter the workforce in the coming years?
Dr. Kurt Miller: Social workers entering the field must demonstrate a high degree of flexibility as they navigate a changing society's complexities, post-COVID 19. Social workers respond to individuals and families' traumatic experiences, applying specific engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Social workers can be found in all segments of society, providing pathways to stability by enlisting organizations and communities' support.
Knowledgeable about resources that support well-being, social workers approach vulnerable, marginalized, and oppressed populations with a hopeful and optimistic attitude, empowering them to achieve their most significant potential. Social workers listen, assess, take action, advocate, provide options, document, intervene, protect, nourish, and defend others' rights. These skills have been present in the profession since the beginning, and will continue to be the hallmark of social workers' work.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Dr. Kurt Miller: What is exciting about the profession of social work is that they can be found in all countries. They work in rural and urban settings. They advocate in public, private, and non-profit organizations. They engage all types of communities. They collaborate with many other professionals. Rather than considering a specific locale for job opportunities, it is crucial to consider how social workers respond to all social contexts. Social workers are needed everywhere.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Dr. Kurt Miller: Social work is an applied profession, relying on personal contact with others. Technology has not always been a friend of the job, and if we have learned something from COVID-19, we have seen that technology has opened up doors for engagement for disenfranchised populations. As a result, there is an excellent opportunity for technology to positively impact how social workers flexibly engage with others as they provide services to aid in human well-being.
What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW: Social workers have much to offer across settings. We work in hospitals, schools, community-based clinics, non-profits, child welfare departments, and as managers, community organizers, and policy professionals. We seek to improve human well-being and health at the individual, community, and system levels. My advice to new social work graduates is to pursue your passion for helping others and focus on developing your skillset.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW: Telehealth and specifically teletherapy, including audio-only telephonic services, have been largely enabled because of the pandemic public health emergency. We have an opportunity now to embrace telehealth and ensure much greater access to services for clients and patients. These developments and the shift to many students learning virtually may also result in support for internet access as a public utility--which would be great for underserved communities. We should embrace technology and ensure that no one is left behind.
How would you rate the starting salaries for graduates in this field, as well as the salary prospects down the line as they advance in their careers?
Sarah Christa Butts MSW: Social workers are required to have a high level of education. Usually, a Master's degree and starting salaries are often far too low. Still, social workers can increase their wages over time, and there are many opportunities and positions available. Increasing reimbursement and compensation for social workers and reducing student loan debt are advocacy priorities for NASW.
Dr. April Jones
ChairTuskegee University
Department of Social Work
What are the best companies to work for?
Dr. April Jones: The feedback from business leaders is that they wish to see a balanced mix of new graduates' skills. An unexpected gift mentioned is the ability to use spreadsheets, such as Excel. Companies do not expect to train new employees to use spreadsheets, though it turned out that spreadsheets are widely used (at varying levels of complexity) at all levels in organizations. An assumption here is that if a graduate already has good spreadsheet skills, then the graduate should also have the ability to quickly pick up on other, more complex business IT skills required by the organization.
Businesses also need to know if their new employees can effectively interact with internal or external audiences. In this regard, excellent presentation skills are the minimum expectation from businesses. Presentation skills (both formal and informal) include the ability to read people, communicate, and convey information appropriately to the different types of audiences they may encounter - and these may sometimes include bored, skeptical, adversarial, or even hostile audiences.
Every organization also requires graduates to show that they are good team-players. In addition to that, it is a significant advantage if graduates can also demonstrate good leadership skills in the context of teamwork. This is because new employees with leadership potential are viewed as those who are willing to go the extra mile, able to function with minimum supervision, can roll with the punches to jump back into the fray, and trusted to welcome (instead of to avoid) new assignments or challenges. Leadership skills are also seen as closely aligned with the possession of a corporate entrepreneurial mindset. Such employees are more willing to challenge the status quo, come up with out-of-the-box ideas, and help lead transformation efforts to guide the organization in the future.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for graduates in this field in the next 5 years?
Dr. April Jones: Business skills are in great demand anywhere where there is a desire to organize human beings for productive gains. Realistically, new graduates always have to consider if they should relocate for their first jobs. This is because it is natural for business cycles to expand or contract over time in patterns that may not be in sync with the timing of new graduates entering the workforce. For instance, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has frozen certain types of jobs in businesses but has expanded other types of jobs instead. This means that new opportunities are being created, but these may be located in other parts of the country.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Dr. April Jones: Large organizations will likely continue to invest in data-mining efforts to understand their supply chain dynamics better. Smaller companies (defined as those with reduced access to funding) will probably make increased use of cloud computing applications to remain competitive. Governments, verification, or certification organizations may invest in blockchain technologies to reliably track sources or destinations of goods.
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.
Professor and HeadNorth Carolina State University
School of Social Work
WebsiteIn your opinion, what are the biggest trends we'll see in the job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.: Healthcare jobs, which includes mental health practitioners, are in high demand during the pandemic. However, this trend is not a new phenomenon. COVID19 has illuminated the stark reality that social work, as a profession, contributes skilled, well-credentialed, and highly educated individuals to work effectively across health, human services, and educational settings to meet the needs of people who may be vulnerable to psycho-social, economic, political, and environmental factors that are determinants of health outcomes. Since the pandemic, it has become abundantly clear that social workers are essential in the health arena to enhance human well-being and to meet the basic to complex needs of our diverse population of individuals, families, and communities that are struggling in the wake of the pandemic, and the absence of a cure or vaccine.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.: The technologies that enable us to continue meeting with our constituent groups, professional colleagues, patients, clients, and students are critical. We know that they are prevalent because we are using them daily to host meetings, connect with our clients or patients, to sustain social connection with our distant relatives and loved ones, and to conduct the business of our days, weeks, and months. Indefinitely!
Now that we know we can host an effective and productive meeting, training, or presentation via Zoom, WebEx, Blackboard, GoToWebinar, GoToMeeting, 2U Connect, Microsoft Teams, and more, these technologies have become a mainstay for the next 3-5 years. As unfortunate and distressing as the COVID19 pandemic is, let's face it, we have been forced to innovate and create new ways of engaging, collaborating, educating, and communicating that can be sustained for years to come.
Many people whom I talk with about the changes and challenges say that they are delighted to have embarked upon such a plethora of options for doing business as (not so) usual; primarily mental health clinicians who are now able to see their clients and provide services without the issues and barriers of transportation, lack of time to transition from work to the therapist's office. Being able to pivot from one business meeting to a therapy appointment or a medical appointment is desirable for many people I converse with about technology and our new standard of adjusting to COVID19.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for graduates in this field in the next 5 years?
Dr. Karen Bullock Ph.D.: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 125,200 mental health social worker jobs in 2018. Between 2019 and 2020, the job outlook is projected to expand by 13% with new social work jobs, a much faster growth rate than other occupations. Moreover, healthcare social workers' employment is projected to increase by 14% from 2019 to 2029. Thus, we will need to continue preparing graduates in Social Work in the next five years to meet this labor force demand. SocialServices
What type of skills will young graduates need when they enter the workforce in the coming years?
M Elizabeth Bowman Ph.D.: Social work graduates will need an ongoing understanding of cultural competence, explicitly incorporating a global perspective of the social work field and systems of oppression domestically and internationally. Students should be prepared by emphasizing cultural competency training within BSW and MSW programs, with exposure to varying cultures through the international school of social work partnerships. Additionally, social workers are expected to be aware of and competent in using technology, both for record-keeping and internal agency process, and for supporting case management (i.e., internet searches for resources, research for evidence-based practice, technology education, and support of clients).
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
M Elizabeth Bowman Ph.D.: Child welfare is always looking for qualified social work staff. I would highly recommend this field for recent grads. It provides many opportunities to specialize in different areas (not only child protective services, but quality assurance and case reviews, adoptions, permanency, etc.), and experiences that are many and varied days, today. Child welfare work gets a bad wrap, but it is higher paying than almost any other social work specialty. You have many opportunities to learn about the court process, family dynamics, crisis intervention, medical and developmental issues, substance abuse, criminal justice, and pretty much any other social work domain you may want to learn about.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
M Elizabeth Bowman Ph.D.: Documentation and the use of technologies in social work practice continue to be a mixed bag. While new record-keeping programs are available, social workers are often not provided with working technology by agencies for which they work. This is an essential factor for organizational consideration, both investments in the new record-keeping programs and the staff device maintenance are crucial. Social workers continue to need laptops/tablets, cell phones, and access to the internet daily to effectively complete their jobs.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Marde Closson: We envision technology positively impacting the field. As we were thrust into more of an online world in March, we have learned that services can still be effectively provided to clients. At some of our integrated practicum sites(which combine primary health care and behavioral health services), platforms such as Telehealth have been used even more so as the way to deliver health care services. We are sure that there will be other platforms available within the next five years, which will probably serve as cutting edge in the care of patients and clients. We might even see agencies expand their services because they can reach more people.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Benjamin Sher: From my perspective as Director of NYU Silver's Office of Global and Lifelong Learning and former President of NASW-NYC, I would say absolutely. NASW National has pushed for professional social workers to be recognized as front-line workers. This does, unfortunately, differentiate PSW a bit from essential workers (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals). However, we have been and will continue to be a key part of the pandemic. There is more of a need for social workers as we see the emotional and social impacts of the virus on people. Professional social workers are the largest provider of mental health services in the country, and we are needed now more than ever.
The inequities in health care that the virus has exposed in our society has also made it essential for social workers to be a part of the solution to the social determinants of health and health disparities. Social Workers, trained in using a systems analysis and person-in-environment perspective, are key to grasping the pandemic problem as a public health issue, and we are very effective at organizing and addressing multiple biological-psychological-social-environmental-justice-spiritual needs for people and communities impacted by the virus. Many schools of social work have been outreached by their local governments to support the contract tracing efforts needed for widespread testing. This happened in both NY and NJ, and NASW-NYC advocated with NY State leadership to hire graduating students and MSW interns as contact tracers. An Op-Ed in City Limits was written on it.
Also - as that many community-based organizations have transitioned to telehealth and tele-mental health services and continue to remain so even as certain parts of the tri-state area are opening up, students who have had internship experience in this model will be very attractive graduating candidates this year.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Benjamin Sher: This is by no means a perfect science, but this map shows you the distribution of social work members in NASW. This, along with the licensing statistics you should be able to find through every state licensing board (e.g., see New York State), should help paint the picture of how many social workers may exist in a particular region or area. I believe that North Carolina has become a growing area for social work, and as you can see, the tri-state area (e.g., NJ, CT, NYC, and NY) are all very attractive places for social workers. To find work opportunities, as is California. Please note these lists do not include unlicensed social workers in a state or region, or social workers who are not members of NASW.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Benjamin Sher: Technology will have a significant impact on the field. As a matter of fact NASW revised its Code of Ethics in 2017 to include issues around the field and technology (e.g., use of social media with current and former patients, confidentiality, and using safe and secure online sites to engage in the treatment, etc.). Federal and State governments have relaxed requirements around HIPAA and reimbursement for services due to COVID-19.
It is hard to say how long this will last; however, there is no doubt that technology will play a large role in the treatment of people, groups, communities, and organizations served by social workers in the next five years. Access to technology must be a human rights issue, and social workers serve as advocates for the populations they serve in order to have fair, equitable, efficient, low-cost access to online services. Organizations must be given the support to build up their technical infrastructure to support this exponential growth in technology treatment and care.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Mary Garrison: I do think that COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on graduates both psychologically and economically. Graduates this year are experiencing a year like no other - not only is their senior year and graduation experiences altered, but the opportunities ahead are very different from in the past. Due to COVID-19, how "we do business" is different and therefore challenges both agencies/non-profits as well as those looking for their first professional job. There is a great need for front line work to be accomplished, COVID-19, or not. Graduates need to be open, flexible, and take on the challenge of what opportunities come their way.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Mary Garrison: Social work and human service employment opportunities are available across our nation. Opportunities are available across our nation in large or small cities. Specifically, rural areas are in SIGNIFICANT need of helping professionals, so those areas may provide incentives to encourage graduates to apply for opportunities.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Mary Garrison: Technology is here, and we have known that the role of technology has a place in the work we do. COVID-19 has forced us to implement technology in ways that we were not comfortable in doing so across the social work profession...we were thinking about it, listening, but not ready to jump in as a profession. COVID-19 forced us to do just that. All of the technology that is available offers an opportunity for connection, support, and healing, and as we move forward. We must understand how those seeking treatment have to be best served on an individual and group basis.
Laura Burney Nissen Ph.D.
ProfessorPortland State University
School of Social Work
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Laura Burney Nissen Ph.D.: Social work remains among the fastest growing professions in the US. Given the likely trajectory of simultaneous recovery from COVID-19 in terms of health, economic recovery - and the complex and rapid real-time evolution in attention to reforming and transforming issues of structural racism in many settings - there will likely be expanding roles and opportunities for social workers.
What will be essential in this - is for social workers who are just now graduating - to realize that the practice of the profession will continue to evolve. New social workers will likely be involved in systems change and transformation in ways that may be different than they'd imagined. They may be practicing not only in traditional settings (hospitals, mental health settings) but also, potentially, in non-traditional settings (libraries or tech).
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Laura Burney Nissen Ph.D.: I see the ongoing rapid evolution of technology - and ongoing power struggles about the ethics of this development and deployment. Between smart cities, the internet of things, biotech, and blockchain (as examples), technological proliferation is ubiquitous. Some describe that a "tech solutionist" bias is in full swing - and concerningly - that racial bias is too often embedded in these technologies.
This isn't meant to impede true progress or modernization per se, but rather to simply assure that the future is democratized and equity is centered. Numerous really important questions linger. Who decides how technology should be part of modern life? Who provides oversight and ethical grounding? How does technology potentially help (and it can) address some of the social challenges ahead, and how might it exacerbate them? How will human rights, equity, and social justice concerns be identified and addressed? These are spaces where social workers of the future can probably make vital contributions.
Manasseh Begay
CounselorDine College
Social Work
What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Manasseh Begay: I would give a new graduate several areas of advice. This is partially assuming they are obtaining a Master's degree. However, this would also apply to those receiving a BSW as well. Having an excellent licensed supervisor or supervision in this field is extremely important. Finding this person is going to be necessary for licensure, but also to ensure you are acting (as a new social worker) in an ethical manner, in a way best-serving clients, and providing you are maintaining your self-care. A new social worker is going to struggle in most areas, but if they keep these areas of importance, they will be fine and act in a way that does not harm themselves, their client, or the field of social work. I would encourage the social worker to begin the process of obtaining a license as soon as possible, this will be beneficial to the social worker, acting in their highest capacity, and lead more rapidly to graduation, this can be done, the less likely it will be that they will not forget the things they have learned.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Manasseh Begay: The use of online platforms for meetings and providing treatment is going to increase significantly. Telehealth has become increasingly in demand, and being certified in this is going to be necessary. This is going to be even more critical with the COVID-19 pandemic. I think there is going to be an increase in coordinated care as well. Communication with doctors and mental health providers will likely increase to ensure good quality care for clientele. This will also impact continuing education, which is required for licensures. Many pieces of training are going to be using online platforms. This will change the level of instruction, which will increase the need for increased supervision.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Manasseh Begay: There will be an impact on graduates due to COVID-19. Treatment to clients has been impacted due to the lack of face-to-face interaction. Some clients, who are not technologically savvy or lacking the internet, will be affected the most due to a lack of cooperation. The use of non-verbal communication will be significantly decreased due to telehealth, and ensuring social workers are prepared for the inevitable telehealth world is necessary. This will take additional training on top of academic education. Helping clients with increased anxiety due to COVID will also be a new area of treatment and cannot entirely be mitigated due to the unknown "new normal," which is yet to come. Agencies standard operating procedures will likely change, including group size and the number of in-person meetings. This will impact a graduates' ability for supervision and observation. The complete impacts are still not fully known and will continue to be investigated.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Leslie Jensby: I believe we are experiencing a paradigm shift in the workforce and the workplace. The need for providers of human services has increased during the pandemic. This need will continue even when COVID-19 is no longer an immediate threat due to the ongoing emotional impact of the high death toll, unemployment, and lifestyle changes.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Leslie Jensby: Every country sector has been affected by COVID, but particularly areas with high populations of underserved, marginalized, and oppressed people. COVID has bared the fact that the pandemic disproportionally impacts Black and brown communities. These communities will need increased ongoing support from social workers trained to engage, assess, and intervene with individuals, families, and communities.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Leslie Jensby: Social workers immediately utilized technology to provide continuing support to service participants. Both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) quickly gathered resources to guide social work professionals in the ethical use of technology. Although direct in-person service is desirable in many cases, innovative use of technology will continue to play a role in the creative delivery of services.
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella
Professor, MSW Program CoordinatorSouthern Connecticut State University
Department of Social Work
WebsiteWill there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella: Social workers who graduate in 2021 will become leaders in adopting new technologies to social work practice with families and communities. Their unique experience as social work students during this pandemic will prepare graduates to respond to ethical issues such as access to care and to develop best practices in delivering telehealth and related services.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella: Social workers are needed everywhere -- from rural settings to small towns, to large cities. Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the U.S.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
Lorrie Greenhouse Gardella: In a social work textbook published in 1917, Mary Richmond advised social workers about the risks and benefits of new technology -- the telephone! One hundred years later, the risks and benefits of using new communications technologies are much the same. New technologies will continue to enhance but not replace in-person social work practice in the future.
Lachelle Rosenbaum
Social Work Program Director, Assistant ProfessorLewis-Clark State College
Management Science
WebsiteWhat general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Lachelle Rosenbaum: Entering the social work workforce during/post-COVID will require creativity, flexibility, and independence. Having a willing and teachable attitude will enhance graduates' employment experience. Remembering that clients may have additional situational grief/trauma, due to the impact of COVID, may accentuate their presenting problems and reduce frustration or unrealistic expectations.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Lachelle Rosenbaum: Technology will have a significant influence on the social work field's day-to-day involvement with clients and colleagues, as agencies will be offering services through a variety of modalities, such as in-person, over the telephone, or through video. Reviewing and following the National Association of Social Workers: Code of Ethics' standards concerning the ethical use of technology will assist graduates as they navigate the challenging ethical dilemmas it may present.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Lachelle Rosenbaum: There will be an enduring impact from COVID-19, just as there was from 9/11. Openness to creativity, telehealth, and working from home are only a few that might remain and drive evidence-based practice to new levels.
Debra Minsky-Kelly
Director of Field Education / Clinical Assistant Professor of Social WorkCarthage College
Liberal Arts
WebsiteWhat general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: I think there are two critical skills for social workers, whether they are first entering the workforce or seasoned professionals. These skills are humility and an appreciation for ambiguity in our work. A humble approach to our work empowers clients to become experts on their circumstances. Social workers are then positioned in a collaborative role to help clients use existing skills and resources to improve their situations. An appreciation for ambiguity is closely related to the idea of humility. It helps us to remember that practice situations we face in this field are often far more complicated than they appear on the surface. Thus, all social workers need to make a strong commitment to lifelong learning and ongoing consultation with colleagues to ensure that multiple perspectives are included as we work to solve complex problems.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: We have certainly learned a lot about remote service delivery options and ways in which these tools can make services more accessible to some clients and communities. However, I also think we have learned that connecting via technology has limitations. The power of in-person human connection is reliable, and this can often not be replicated via technology. I believe that technology has an important role to play in service delivery. Still, social workers also need to recognize the importance of keeping clients connected to their natural support networks. During periods of distress, healthy and connected relationships provide an essential buffering effect on the long term effects of trauma.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Debra Minsky-Kelly: I believe that the pandemic has reinforced the core social work skill of adapting to unexpected situations. We have all learned that vulnerable populations are at particular risk in times of national crisis. The importance of a social safety net and a well-trained social work profession is more critical than ever. I believe that social workers will remain at the forefront of effective community responses to the pandemic's health, mental health, and economic impacts for years to come.
What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Virginia Schwindt: Take the licensing test as soon as you are able to, and be open to where you work. It is great to want a specific population or employer, but being open to other experiences may be where God wants you to be. Don't limit yourself because, as a social worker, you can do so many different things.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Virginia Schwindt: Telehealth and the internet. Suppose the Pandemic has taught us one thing, that is that we can still meet people and their needs through the online environment. In my opinion, it is not the best way, but it is a way to meet with people and to be able to assist them, rather than people sitting alone and without assistance.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Virginia Schwindt: I think that the pandemic has shown the need for social workers even more. I've seen and heard from social workers in the community how there is more need for those helping in mental health, with resources, in police departments, in children's services, to name a few. I think social workers will be in more demand now, in the pandemic, than before. Social workers are versatile, and in this world now, people need not just counseling, but so many other services that social workers offer.
What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Robert Abair: A foundational element to the Social Science profession is making secure human connections. The advancement of technology has brought to this profession many positive tools and resources for the link. However, the timelessness of the "physical" human connection that spans all generations cannot be, indeed, replaced by virtual technology. At the outset of the Global Pandemic COVID 19, a few significant themes emerged with this class of graduates. Our college classes had to pivot from an in-class teaching environment to a virtual, online teaching environment, quickly. Due to this significant shift and quick action taken, what emerged was students becoming resilient, resourceful, and compassionate. Students became resilient in the way they adapted to a new learning environment. They were ingenious in their use of and knowledge of current technology. And most importantly, during this crisis of change, they expressed compassion with one another. These traits are fundamental themes in the Social Science Profession, and this class (2020) graduates will most likely carry them over into the workforce.
Barb Burdge Ph.D.
Chair, Dept. of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology Director and Field Instruction Coordinator, Social Work Program Professor of Social WorkManchester University
Criminal Justice
WebsiteWhat general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career?
Barb Burdge Ph.D.: Join an agency whose mission you believe in and whose leadership you respect. Get your license and take advantage of as many professional development opportunities as you can.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years?
Barb Burdge Ph.D.: All types of web-based, video conferencing.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Barb Burdge Ph.D.: Yes. They will quickly gain expertise in providing social work services on-line. This modality will require new thinking about ethics, relationships, and practice evaluation.
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Comparative American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist StudiesOberlin College
Department of Comparative American Studies
WebsiteWill there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.: Undoubtedly, there will be an ongoing impact from the pandemic. As of now, the epidemic is far from over, so it is hard to measure precisely what the lasting effects may be. But we do know, in the United States anyway; unemployment is currently up and small, local businesses took a big hit during the shutdowns.
At the same time, we have seen a rise in remote work options. As the economy recovers, graduates may face a tightened job market. Still, they may also find new, creative roles they may not have anticipated that allow for remote work, like content writing for organizations, social media management, and other work types that can be completed with a computer and Internet access.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.: One great thing about a degree in these interdisciplinary fields is that it opens many job possibilities. Graduates from these fields may do all sorts of different work for nonprofits or NGOs in the education sector, politics, research, writing and editing, and healthcare settings.
With the pandemic, there has been so much variability state-by-state in terms of spread, plans for reopening, and what remains closed, that it's hard to say which places may be better to look for work. I know some recent graduates are still landing jobs and making big moves all over the United States for those jobs, while others are taking on remote work and choosing where they will live. I recommend, if one is able, casting a wide net, being open to new places or job possibilities you might not have initially imagined for yourself.
How do you envision technology impacting this field in the next 5 years?
KJ Cerankowski Ph.D.: I think technology will continue to have a growing impact on these fields and the careers made possible. I've already mentioned the rise of remote work possibilities, and technology is a massive part of what makes communication, meetings, and workflow happen from anywhere in the world. Technology has not only reshaped how we do work but also the kinds of work people do, including everything from web design to social media to web content and blog writing to public relations management of a company or organization's virtual image.
The critical skills developed while completing a degree in ethnic studies, critical race, or gender studies are essential pieces of a graduate's skillset. These fields instill a fundamental approach to representation, politics, inequity, and its impact on disenfranchised communities. These are the skills that many companies and organizations of today need in their organizational ethos and marketing content.
With the growth of a digital world that lends itself to a purportedly more democratic platform for voice and representation, these critical skills are that much more in demand. I think we will continue to see the growth of jobs made possible through increasing technological development. At the same time, screen exhaustion is real, and I hope that we can strike more of a balance in our digital lives as the pandemic eases.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates?
Delayna Tonogan: We will have some students (Bachelor of Social Work) who will be graduating in December. For those students, we anticipate there might be a small impact for some in securing employment immediately after graduation. Due to the coronavirus, some community agencies have had to reduce staff or implement furlough days to avoid layoffs. Still, other agencies are also allowing their team to work remotely through secured video platforms, which could positively affect our student's post-graduation.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for graduates to find work opportunities in this field after they graduate?
Delayna Tonogan: Nationally, there is a high need for social workers. You will find social workers practicing in social service/community resource, domestic violence, health/medical/hospice, mental health inpatient or outpatient, legal/forensic, educational/school social work, child welfare, elder care/geriatric, substance abuse, and homelessness. The field is very competitive, but there are opportunities throughout the United States.
