Social workers
Occupation · NOC 2021 41300 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 41300
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 129
- Median wage, Canada
- C$38.46 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 2,843
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About this occupation
Social workers help individuals, couples, families, groups, communities and organizations develop the skills and resources they need to enhance social functioning and provide counselling, therapy and referral to other supportive social services. Social workers also respond to other social needs and issues such as unemployment, racism and poverty. They are employed by hospitals, school boards, social service agencies, child welfare organizations, correctional facilities, community agencies, employee assistance programs and Aboriginal band councils, or they may work in private practice.
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
Employment requirements
- 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.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 42 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 27 |
| 2026 | 6 |
- CIUSSS Centre-Sud de l'Île de Montréal33
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et services sociaux de l'Estrie - Centre hospitalier universit17
- Centre Intégré universitaire de santé et service sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale14
- Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Côte-Nord10
- CIUSSS du Nord de l'Île de Montréal9
- CISSS de Lanaudière8
- CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal7
- Centre intégré de santé et de service sociaux de la Montérégie-Ouest7
- CISSS de la Montérégie-Est5
- CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches4
- CISSS de Laval3
- Centre de Santé Inuulitsivik3
- CISSS de l'Outaouais2
- CIUSSS du Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal2
- Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal1
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 25 |
| 2025 | 0 | 20 |
| 2024 | 0 | 15 |
| 2023 | 0 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 10 |
| 2019 | 0 | 35 |
| 2018 | 0 | 35 |
| 2017 | 0 | 30 |
| 2016 | 0 | 35 |
| 2015 | 0 | 20 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 30 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 35 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2026 | 30 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2022 | 25 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 120 |
- Canadian Experience Class310
- Federal Skilled Worker300
- Provincial Nominee Program100
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$25.00 | C$38.46 | C$50.26 |
| Alberta | C$23.97 | C$39.60 | C$51.24 |
| British Columbia | C$26.18 | C$36.81 | C$52.00 |
| Manitoba | C$27.47 | C$35.00 | C$49.00 |
| New Brunswick | C$22.50 | C$40.00 | C$45.64 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$33.65 | C$40.01 | C$47.00 |
| Nova Scotia | C$24.00 | C$36.26 | C$47.18 |
| Ontario | C$25.00 | C$38.66 | C$53.32 |
| Quebec | C$25.00 | C$37.00 | C$48.68 |
| Saskatchewan | C$27.08 | C$38.00 | C$46.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 2,843
- Vacancies advertised
- 3,542
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$34.49
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