The report shows the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) social workers in post in December 2024 was 2.4% less than in June 2024.
The report shows the number of social work vacancies fell from 9.3% in June 2024 to 8.2% in December 2024 although only 23 local authorities provided vacancy data in December compared to 29 in June. There’s a wide variation in vacancy rates reported by those local authorities from 0% to 26.2%.
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.
This fourth report presents data from 30 local authorities which we gathered in December 2024. Twenty-three local authorities provided data on the number of social work vacancies. We haven’t included December 2024 data provided by two local authorities while we check their submissions and have carried forward their June 2024 data. We hope to publish confirmed data for both later this year.
This report compares data from the annual censuses of local authority social work services (LASWS) from December 2020 to December 2024 plus data from the June 2023 and June 2024 six-monthly surveys.
Key findings from the report
- Compared to June 2024 the data collected in the December 2024 survey shows a 2.4% decrease in the WTE of practising social workers.
- At December 2024 there were 6,602 WTE practising social workers in Scotland’s local authorities.
- The vacancy rate fell from 9.3% in June 2024 to 8.2% in December 2024. However, only 23 authorities provided any response to the vacancy question in December compared to 29 in June 2024.
- Between June and December 2024, the WTE of children and justice social workers decreased.
- Vacancy rates are higher for main grade posts than senior posts.
- A large variation in vacancy rates can be seen across local authorities in December 2024 ranging from 0.0% in three local authorities, Inverclyde, Midlothian and Perth and Kinross, to 26.2 % in Na h-Eileanan Siar.
- Of the 23 local authorities that reported vacancy data in December 2024, 11 (almost half) had a rate above the overall rate of 8.2%.
Read the fourth Social worker filled posts and vacancies six-monthly survey report: Analysis of the data collected as at 6 December 2024 published 11 July 2025.