This report was reissued and republished on the 12th November 2024 after a revision which is detailed here

Analysis of data at 14th June 2024

This report presents data on the whole time equivalent (WTE) number of social workers and social work vacancies in local authority social work services in June 2024. It is the third of our half-yearly reports on practising social workers (that is, main grade social workers and senior social workers).

This third report presents data from all 32 local authorities. Key findings from the report are set out below:

•      There was a 5.3% 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 15.1% 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 PSWs 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.

Download

If you have any enquiries about the report please contact:

Matthew Taylor

Data Researcher

Workforce Intelligence Team

Scottish Social Services Council

Compass House

11 Riverside Drive

Dundee DD1 4NY

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.