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School Social Workers

Education & Training
Projected change 2024–34: +3.4%
Median annual wage (2024): $58,570
Employment (2024): 400K

United States · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34 (figures for SOC 21-1021 occupational group)

AI exposure in published research

Figures below are reproduced from external datasets without modification. Where a dataset does not cover this occupation, the value is shown as — rather than as zero.

Data provider: OpenAI · "GPTs are GPTs"

Time basis: 2023 baselineex-ante estimate

Scored against GPT-4-generation capability.

Human rater basis
30.0%
GPT-4 rater basis
24.3%

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

23 rated tasks · 10 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (43.5%)

Version:
gh-main-0471612
License:
MIT License · Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Data provider: Anthropic Economic Index

Time basis: Published 2026-03-05composite index

Observed exposure
0.7%

Theoretical exposure index weighted by measured Claude usage, per the original report's definition.

23 tasks · usage observed in 1 · mean 4.3%

Data: Anthropic Economic Index — labor_market_impacts, CC-BY, https://huggingface.co/datasets/Anthropic/EconomicIndex

AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

Version:
hf-lmi-2026-03
License:
CC BY 4.0
Observation period:
(not applicable to this release)
Model:
(not stated by the source)

2023 prediction vs observation-based index published 2026-03-05

One card (GPTs are GPTs) is a 2023 estimate of what AI could theoretically do; the other (Anthropic Economic Index) is built from observed usage and was published on 2026-03-05 — that is its publication date, not the period it observed. They measure different things, so the two figures cannot be added, averaged, or ranked against each other. The older figure is kept here as a baseline for comparison rather than removed.

Caution: the Anthropic figures — observed exposure and task penetration — take the Eloundou β as one of their inputs. The two sides resembling each other is therefore not evidence that the earlier prediction came true; reading it that way is circular reasoning.

The Anthropic figures are measured on Claude users, who are not the whole economy and not the whole workforce.

The mapping of O*NET tasks and occupation codes was performed by AI Changing Work. The source figures themselves were not modified.

These indices are not forecasts. Which point in time each one belongs to is stated on the badge on its card.

Task Breakdown

  • Document case notes and maintain student records
  • Provide direct crisis intervention and counseling
  • Research and connect families with community resources

About This Occupation

If you work as a School Social Worker, AI is augmenting your documentation and resource-matching tasks. With an automation risk of 11/100 and overall exposure at 26%, this role faces low transformation due to its deeply interpersonal nature. BLS projects +3% growth through 2034.

ISCO-08 classification

Unit group 2635ILO official

Social Work and Counselling Professionals

Definition

ILO original text (English)

Social work and counselling professionals provide advice and guidance to individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations in response to social and personal difficulties. They assist clients to develop skills and access resources and support services needed to respond to issues arising from unemployment, poverty, disability, addiction, criminal and delinquent behaviour, and marital and other problems.

Definition & vocabulary source

Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) — ISCO-08 Structure

License: ILO CC BY 4.0

View original

Official occupational information

  • ONET21-1011.00

    Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors

    Counsel and advise individuals with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other problems, such as gambling and eating disorders. May counsel individuals, families, or groups or engage in prevention programs.

    View original
  • ONET21-1015.00

    Rehabilitation Counselors

    Counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.

    View original
  • ONET21-1021.00

    Child, Family, and School Social Workers

    Provide social services and assistance to improve the social and psychological functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family well-being and the academic functioning of children. May assist parents, arrange adoptions, and find foster homes for abandoned or abused children. In schools, they address such problems as teenage pregnancy, misbehavior, and truancy. May also advise teachers.

    View original
  • ONET21-1022.00

    Healthcare Social Workers

    Provide individuals, families, and groups with the psychosocial support needed to cope with chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. Services include advising family caregivers. Provide patients with information and counseling, and make referrals for other services. May also provide case and care management or interventions designed to promote health, prevent disease, and address barriers to access to healthcare.

    View original
  • ONET21-1092.00

    Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists

    Provide social services to assist in rehabilitation of law offenders in custody or on probation or parole. Make recommendations for actions involving formulation of rehabilitation plan and treatment of offender, including conditional release and education and employment stipulations.

    View original
  • ONET21-1099.00

    Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other

    All community and social service specialists not listed separately.

    View original

Source: O*NET 30.2, U.S. DOL/ETA

License: CC BY 4.0

View original

Frequently Asked Questions

The Anthropic Economic Index puts observed exposure at 0.7%. The OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" rubric puts occupation-level β at 30.0% under human raters. Both figures are reproduced from published research without modification.

They come from two published datasets: the Anthropic Economic Index (labor_market_impacts, CC BY 4.0) and the OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric (MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI). AI Changing Work maps them onto O*NET occupation and task codes and does not calculate exposure scores of its own. AI Changing Work uses Anthropic Economic Index data under CC-BY; Anthropic does not endorse or sponsor this site or its analyses.

No. They are a diagnosis of exposure as measured at the time each source dataset was published. AI Changing Work publishes no prediction of future automation or job displacement for this occupation.

Recent Changes Affecting This Occupation

Mar 2026: New evergreen blog post analyzing AI impact on social workers. Automation risk 11% with 26% overall exposure.

[Source: AI Changing Work Blog]