Social and Community Service Workers
Formal Description
“Social and community service workers administer and implement a variety of social assistance programs and community services, and assist clients to deal with personal and social problems. They are employed by social service and government agencies, mental health agencies, group homes, shelters, substance abuse centres, school boards, correctional facilities and other establishments.” (NOC 2021)
Sample Job Titles
This category includes a variety of job titles that may not necessarily be reflected by the category title. For a full index of job titles, see the category entry on the ESDC site. Example job titles include:
Aboriginal Outreach Worker
Addictions Worker
Case Aide
Child and Youth Worker
Child Life Specialist
Child Welfare Worker
Community and Social Services Worker
Community Rehabilitation Worker
Correctional Program Officer
Crisis Intervention Worker
Disability Management Worker
Eligibility Coordinator - Social Assistance
Neuro-linguistic Programming Coach
Residential Counsellor - group home
Veterans' Affairs Field Officer
Volunteer Manager
Typical Employment and Education Requirements
The requirements listed for each occupational category will tend to vary across particular roles, job titles, and contexts.
The following typical requirements are listed on the ESDC’s 2021 entry for this occupational category:
- “Completion of a college or university program in social work, child and youth care, psychology or other social science or health-related discipline is usually required.”
- “Previous work experience in a social service environment as a volunteer or in a support capacity may replace formal education requirements for some occupations in this unit group.”
- “Social service workers may be required to be a member of a provincial regulatory body in some provinces.”
Success with a Social Sciences Undergraduate Degree and Beyond
When reviewing typical requirements, please remember:
- Degree and diploma listings often end with a purposefully open-ended phrase (“or a related field”, “or a similar discipline”) that acknowledges the variety and applicability of social sciences and liberal arts degrees.
- Employers often focus less on the name or title of a candidate’s degree, and more on how they articulate their transferable skills and experiences.
- Many qualifications and certifications are available as post-graduate certificates aimed at recent university graduates; these can make an excellent further education option for a social sciences or liberal arts degree.
Related Sectors
Whereas Economic and Social Development Canada’s ‘occupational’ categories tend to focus more on the duties and functions that people play in specific roles, exploring careers by ‘sectors’ helps us to sort by employer type, industry, or general field of work. Here are just a few of the sectors that may be relevant to this category:
Academic Program Connections
As you select your program of study and the courses you will take, you can chart a path towards success in this sector from any one of our social sciences departments and programs. Here are just a few examples of academic disciplines that have connections with this sector:
Indigenous Studies Learn More
A degree in Indigenous Studies equips students with the skills and understanding necessary to engage effectively, ethically, and empathetically with Indigenous communities.
Social Psychology Learn More
Knowing how people think, feel, and behave enable students to support their clients effectively.
Social Work Learn More
Social Work students analyze personal, community, family and societal problems along with the practical skills such as interviewing, counselling, community development, social action and advocacy.
Sociology Learn More
Studying social trends and community needs, helps in addressing issues like youth development, mental health, elder care, and support for marginalized groups.
