Why Social Work?
People get an MSW because it helps them make a difference in the lives of others. Whether you are interested in private one-on-one counseling, working with the elderly, helping children and families or working through a school system, Dominican provides you with the resources to meet your goals. Here are a few facts about the profession and what is happening within the United States and around the world.

Social work is a high growth career field:
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for all social workers is expected to increase by 22 percent through 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2016.
  • Employment of child, family and school social workers is expected to grow by 19 percent.
  • Mental health and substance abuse social workers will grow by 30 percent.
  • Growth of medical and public health social workers is expected to be 24 percent.
Geriatric social work ranks as one of the top 20 careers in terms of growth potential.*
  • By the year 2050, one out of every seven people in the world will be 65 years or older.
  • By 2020 the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 60,000 and 70,000 geriatric social workers will be needed.
  • The number of social workers in long-term care settings will increase from 36,000 in 2002 to 55,000 in 2012 and to 109,000 by 2050.

There is a major need for social workers with an understanding of global issues, specifically human trafficking.
  • The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 2.45 million trafficking victims (men, women and children) who are living in exploited conditions and another 1.2 million people who are trafficked across and within borders and their numbers continue to rise.
  • The U.S. State Department estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked every year and 80 percent of these are women and children.
  • 18,000 to 20,000 people are trafficked into the United States. 
  • Women are generally lured into slavery through promises of employment as shopkeepers, maids, nannies, or waitresses in developed countries. Upon arriving they are told that they have been purchased by someone and must work as a prostitute to repay the enormous debt they suddenly owe. These women cannot go to the authorities in fear of being deported.
  • The United States enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which strengthens pre-existing criminal penalties in other related laws, affords new protections to trafficking victims and makes available certain benefits and services to victims of severe forms of trafficking.
* According to US News and World Reports
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