Social Service Workers Land Work Fast
Four years after Canada’s first COVID-19 lockdown, the country has found itself in the midst of a mental health crisis. The pandemic itself increased anxiety and depression among many; now, two in five Canadians report that their mental health has been negatively affected by the economic downturn that resulted. Yet gaps in the health-care system leave many Canadians without adequate access to care, both in the short term and in the long term. In Ontario, seven per cent of the health-care budget is devoted to mental health initiatives, even though it makes up 10 per cent of the burden of disease. The growing cost of living has caused the number of people experiencing homelessness in many areas across the country to also grow. It’s estimated that more than 520,000 people living with mental illness are inadequately housed at any given time, and that as many as 119, 800 are without a home at all.
Demand growing for social service workers
While an increase in mental health and socio-economic concerns isn’t something to celebrate, there’s an urgent need for practitioners who can help people navigate these issues through counselling, crisis intervention and community services—and that means jobs. The Canadian government has dedicated $500 million to help community health organizations provide young people with more mental health care, and 59,100 new job openings for social and community service workers are expected nationwide between 2022 and 2031.
Social service worker program to consider
In contrast to social workers and psychologists, who require a master’s degree, social service worker diploma programs offered by colleges train workers who can get out into the field quickly—some in as little as 10 months—and start making a difference. These programs, like the social service worker program at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto and the social service community worker program at New Brunswick Community College, teach skills on topics such as counselling, anti-oppressive practice, mental health and addiction intervention and crisis intervention. Compared to pursuing a university degree in social work, these programs offer smaller class sizes with more personalized learning experiences and hands-on training to prep students for immediate employment in the field.
Since programs abound, students may want to consider particular specializations available before locking in on a particular college: the diploma program at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, B.C., for example, includes a stream with an Indigenous focus, where students are equipped with knowledge (including an understanding of the impact of colonization) and skills to work in culturally safe ways with the Indigenous communities in social service agencies and schools. At Langara College in Vancouver, students can pursue a certificate or diploma with a focus on working with seniors. An innovative program at Red River College Polytechnic in Winnipeg offers a tuition-free, 270-hour online shelter support worker microcredential. Students are trained in fundamental skills needed to work in a shelter, specializing in either homelessness or family violence.
Graduates land jobs quickly
Social service workers earn an average of $24.18 per hour and support vulnerable populations, ultimately working to improve their quality of life. Graduates find work in a range of places, such as shelters, addiction centres, long-term care facilities, hospitals, employment service offices, schools and newcomer organizations. A day’s work could include assessing a client’s needs, implementing treatment and behaviour management methods, providing crisis intervention, planning recreational and therapeutic programs and offering emotional support and counselling.
Many colleges maintain relationships with community organizations and social service agencies, and graduates are scooped up quickly, often by organizations they worked at during job placements.
This story appeared in the 2025 edition of the Ultimate Guide to Canadian Colleges. Order your copy here.