Our third six-monthly survey report on Scotland’s filled and vacant social worker and senior social worker posts in local authorities, showed the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) social workers in post increased by 4.8% to 6,212 WTE practising social workers in June 2024.
The report also shows that the number of social work vacancies fell to 9.3% from 10.3% in December 2023. Vacancy rates for main grade posts are higher than senior posts and high rates in children and adult fieldwork teams show social workers are in increasing demand.
As part of the survey, we asked for comments from senior local authority staff on social worker numbers and vacancies in their authorities. Twenty-three local authorities reported that vacancies were hard to fill with the most common reason being too few applicants.
Some local authorities reported running successful recruitment campaigns, however the general theme is that there’s a national shortage of applicants and the labour market is becoming more competitive.
Six-monthly reports
We’re producing six-monthly reports to provide an accurate picture of social work vacancies at the request of the Scottish Government.
The report presents data from 31 local authorities which we gathered in June 2024. One local authority didn’t provide data and two others didn’t provide data on the number of social work vacancies.
This report compares data from the annual censuses of LASWS from December 2019 to December 2023 plus data from the June 2023 and June 2024 six-monthly surveys.
Key findings from the report
- There was a 4.8% increase in the whole time equivalent (WTE) number of practising social workers between December 2023 and June 2024.
- The WTE of practising social workers had also increased by 14.6% between December 2019 and June 2024.
- There were 6,212 WTE practising social workers in June 2024. This is the highest number since records began in the 1990s.
- The data from June 2024 shows an increase in WTE vacancies compared to the December figures but a decrease in the vacancy rate from December 2023, down from 10.3% to 9.3%.
- In June 2023 the vacancy rate was 12.9% compared to 9.3% in June 2024.
- Vacancy rates varied by fieldwork team, however high rates in the children and adult fieldwork teams suggest an increasing demand for social workers.
- Vacancy rates are higher for main grade posts than senior posts.
- At the Scotland level the WTE per 100k population has increased from 99 practising social workers in December 2019 to 113 in June 2024.
- Between December 2023 and June 2024, the WTE of generic fieldwork social workers decreased while all others increased.
Read the third Social worker filled posts and vacancies six-monthly survey report: Analysis of the data from 14 June 2024 published 8 November 2024.