Explore occupational profile
- Version:
- OaSIS 2022 Version 1.0
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Overview
Example job titles
- Coordinator of social work
- Medical social worker
- Psychiatric social worker
- Social work supervisor
- Social worker
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Interview clients individually, in families, or in groups, to assess their situation and problems and determine the types of services required
- Provide counsel and therapy to assist clients in developing skills to deal with and resolve their social and personal problems
- Plan programs of assistance for clients including referral to agencies that provide financial assistance, legal aid, housing, medical treatment and other services
- Investigate cases of child abuse or neglect and take authorized protective action when necessary
- Serve as members on interdisciplinary teams of professionals working with client groups
- Act as advocates for client groups in the community, lobby for solutions to problems directly affecting client groups and develop prevention and intervention programs to meet community needs
- Develop or advise on social policy legislation, conduct social research and assist in community development
- Provide mediation services and psychosocial assessments
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and social programs
- May provide public education and consultation to professionals or groups regarding counselling services, issues and methods
- May supervise other social workers.
Additional information
- Social workers may specialize in fields of practice such as child welfare, family services, corrections, gerontology or addictions.
Similar occupations classified elsewhere
Exclusions:
NOC hierarchy breakdown
NOC version
NOC 2021 Version 1.0Broad occupational category
4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government servicesTEER
1 – Occupations usually require a university degreeMajor group
41 – Professional occupations in law, education, social, community and government servicesSub-major group
413 – Professional occupations in social and community servicesMinor group
4130 – Social and community service professionalsUnit group
41300 – Social workersOccupational profile
41300.00 – Social workersWork characteristics
This section outlines the key elements of each occupation’s work environment, including the type of work done, its location, and the setting. There are three categories included in this section:
- Work Activities: describes common tasks undertaken by occupations, grouped into physical, mental, people-oriented, or information gathering activities
- Work Context: highlights key descriptors of the occupation’s setting, such as the physical work environment, physical demands, and the types of interactions with others
- Workplaces/employers: lists common industries or types of companies where the occupation is typically found
The most important descriptors are displayed, in descending order based first on complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context) and then alphabetically. Expand the list to present the full list of descriptors and their ratings by selecting “see more”.
Work Activities
General types of work-related activities.
Workplaces/employers
- Aboriginal band councils
- Child welfare organizations
- Community agencies
- Correctional facilities
- Employee assistance programs
- Hospitals
- Private practice
- School boards
- Social service agencies
Work Context
Structural Job Characteristics
Physical Work Environment
Physical Demands
Interpersonal Relations
Skills and abilities
This section outlines the competencies required for an occupation in the categories of:
- Abilities: innate or developed aptitudes that enable a person to be able to perform expected tasks in this occupation, grouped into cognitive, psychomotor, sensory, and physical abilities
- Skills: developed capabilities that an individual must have to be effective in this occupation, grouped into foundational, analytical, technical, resource management, or interpersonal skills
- Personal Attributes: personal characteristics that are innate or developed through social context and personal experiences
Each category displays up to five descriptors, in descending order based first on proficiency level (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and then alphabetically. Expand the list to present the full list of descriptors and their ratings by selecting “see more”.
Abilities
Innate and developed aptitudes that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and skills to carry out expected work.
Skills
Developed capabilities that an individual must have to be effective in a job, role, function, task or duty.
Personal Attributes
Personal characteristics that are innate and developed through the social context and personal experiences to which the individual is exposed. These qualities influence the way one is and does things and are considered to be valuable assets for work performance.
Employment requirements
Employment requirements include the education, training, certifications, and knowledge needed for each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to five descriptors, in descending order based first on the knowledge level and then alphabetically. Expand the list to present the full list of descriptors and their ratings by selecting “see more”.
Education, certification and licensing
- A bachelor's degree in social work is required in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
- In Alberta, a bachelor's degree or diploma in social work is required.
- Supervised practical experience is usually required.
- Successful completion of provincial written and oral examinations may be required.
- Registration with a provincial governing body is mandatory to practise as a social worker in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
- Use of the titles "Social Worker" and "Registered Social Worker" is regulated in all provinces.
- Membership in a provincial association of social workers is usually required.
Skills for Success
The Skills for Success (SFS) is a model that outlines the fundamental and transferable skills needed to learn, work, and fully participate in daily life. It includes skills descriptions and proficiency levels for nine key skills: adaptability, collaboration, communication, creativity and innovation, digital, numeracy, problem solving, reading and writing.
This section is intended to help users navigate between the SFS model and the occupational competency requirements in the OaSIS.
For each occupational profile, the nine SFS are aligned with corresponding competencies in the OaSIS. The OaSIS provides valuable insights into the level of proficiency or importance required for over 240 competencies across 900 occupations.
To find out how the OaSIS ratings were developed, please consult the methodology here: Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS) methodology - Canada.ca
For questions or comments, feel free to contact us.
Interests
The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people perform best in work environments that match their preferences, meaning individuals and occupations can be matched for an optimal fit. In this model, occupational environments are categorized based on a combination of primary interests and related activities. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Each occupation in the OaSIS is assigned up to three of these interest types.
Interests
Preferences for work environments and outcomes.
Interests profile: SIE
Social (S)
Social occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to inform, train, develop, cure, or enlighten. These occupations often require helping or providing service to others and frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They foster social competencies and achievements. Workers in those occupations like to help others, understand others, and are cooperative and social. They see the world in flexible terms. They are rewarded in their work environment for the display of social values.
Investigative (I)
Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and symbolic, systematic, and creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts, and figuring out problems mentally. They encourage scientific competencies and achievements. Workers in those occupations are erudite, have mathematical and scientific abilities, and see the world in complex, abstract, independent, and original terms. They are rewarded in their work environment for the display of scientific values.
Enterprising (E)
Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the interaction with others to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people and making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business. They foster enterprising competencies and achievements. Workers in those occupations are audacious, popular, self-confident, sociable, and possess leadership and speaking abilities. They see the world in terms of power, status, responsibility, and in stereotyped, dependent, and simple terms. They are rewarded in their work environment for the display of enterprising values and goals: money, power and status.
This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.