The average yearly salary for a social worker in Columbia is $51,606 as of Jan. 2. This falls below the median salary for South Carolina graduates with four-year degrees. The role of a social worker is one who helps others with a variety of problems such as abuse, poverty, mental health issues and learning and physical disabilities, to name a few. Many of us can guess the amount of emotional toll that a job like this would take on a person.
The toll shows through the turnover rates for workers in many agencies, including the child welfare sector that has a turnover rate of as high as 90 percent for frontline workers. In this case, I question the low salary and small educational aids for students attaining a bachelor's in social work.
The need for social workers is great all over the country, but the motivation for a career in social work is declining due to the emotional stress of the job. According to Social Work p.r.n. of Philadelphia, 75 percent of agencies find it hard to recruit new workers. There need to be additional incentives for those looking to go into this career, but may not be able to afford the degree needed for licensing or may not be able to stay in the field for very long due to low salaries and long hours.
I propose that in states that don't already have these programs, prospective social workers should be offered opportunities to have college paid for if they agree to work in an underserved area for a few years after graduation. With a salary that does not equate to paying off tuition very quickly, the problem of monumental student debt should be somewhat alleviated for students doing the challenging work of helping those who cannot help themselves. In this case, the debt should be the burden of the state and not the individual. If public colleges would enact programs like this, more people would be attracted to the field and more workers would lead to less overtime and stress for all.
The bigger picture of lifting the economy by helping each individual personal struggling to overcome poverty lies with each individual social worker in most cases. If one person would help a family to find work and eventually afford education for their children, then these are additional people who can afford to participate in the market more. On the other hand, if social workers are so limited that they are tired and overworked, the chances that they will be able to fulfill their jobs to the best of their abilities is low, and the point of the aid is lost entirely.
All in all, it only make sense that those who may have the largest impact on the economy and the lives of the incapable in society, should be offered an easier path to achieving these goals. Though some create a sour reputation for the job, the nobleness of the work should not be forgotten and should be treated as such.