The Growth of Social Work Education Programs, 1985-1999: Its Impact on Economic and Educational Factors Related to the Profession of Social Work

Using a modified labor market analysis, this article examines the impact of the growth of social work programs on educational standards, the human services labor market, and the salary structure of social work graduates. The authors suggest that a perceived surplus of social work education programs has been detrimental to the income potential of entry-level social workers, to the quality of social work education, and to the competence of the graduates of social work education programs.