📈 Demand by State

Social Worker Demand by State (2026 Outlook)

Where hiring pressure is strongest. Demand scores combine HRSA shortage designations, BLS growth projections, and rural/urban labor-market signals across all 51 U.S. jurisdictions.

5
Severe shortage states
AK, MS, NV, NM, WV
26
High shortage states
HRSA + rural composite
20
Moderate shortage states
Balanced supply/demand
6,500+
HRSA MH-HPSAs nationally
As of 2024
All 51 Jurisdictions

Every U.S. state + DC, ranked.

Sorted by demand score (highest first). Click any card for the full state guide.

Nevada Severe
94/100
Demand score
Severe shortage · +9.0%
Arizona High
91/100
Demand score
High shortage · +9.8%
Texas High
91/100
Demand score
High shortage · +10.2%
Alaska Severe
90/100
Demand score
Severe shortage · +7.1%
Florida High
90/100
Demand score
High shortage · +9.6%
California High
88/100
Demand score
High shortage · +8.4%
North Carolina High
88/100
Demand score
High shortage · +8.6%
Georgia High
87/100
Demand score
High shortage · +8.2%
Idaho High
87/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.8%
New Mexico Severe
87/100
Demand score
Severe shortage · +5.5%
Oregon High
86/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.6%
South Carolina High
86/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.4%
Washington High
86/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.5%
New York High
85/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.2%
Tennessee High
85/100
Demand score
High shortage · +7.1%
Mississippi Severe
84/100
Demand score
Severe shortage · +3.8%
Indiana High
83/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.8%
Maine High
83/100
Demand score
High shortage · +6.0%
Montana High
83/100
Demand score
High shortage · +6.2%
Utah Moderate
83/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +8.4%
Colorado Moderate
82/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +8.1%
Hawaii High
82/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.4%
Kentucky High
82/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.6%
North Dakota High
82/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.3%
Oklahoma High
82/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.6%
West Virginia Severe
82/100
Demand score
Severe shortage · +3.2%
Wyoming High
82/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.7%
Alabama High
81/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.2%
Arkansas High
81/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.1%
Kansas High
81/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.0%
Louisiana High
81/100
Demand score
High shortage · +4.8%
Vermont High
81/100
Demand score
High shortage · +5.2%
Massachusetts Moderate
80/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.8%
South Dakota High
80/100
Demand score
High shortage · +4.5%
District of Columbia Moderate
79/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.5%
Maryland Moderate
79/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.4%
Minnesota Moderate
79/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.5%
Virginia Moderate
79/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.7%
Connecticut Moderate
78/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +5.8%
Delaware Moderate
78/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.2%
New Hampshire Moderate
78/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +5.8%
New Jersey Moderate
78/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +6.0%
Rhode Island Moderate
77/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +5.6%
Illinois Moderate
76/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.9%
Missouri Moderate
76/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +5.0%
Wisconsin Moderate
76/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +5.0%
Iowa Moderate
75/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.3%
Michigan Moderate
75/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.6%
Nebraska Moderate
75/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.4%
Pennsylvania Moderate
75/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.4%
Ohio Moderate
74/100
Demand score
Moderate shortage · +4.2%
Related

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Interactive dashboardAll filters + multi-state compareOpen dashboard → Salary by stateComplementary viewSee salary → LCSW requirements by stateHours, timeline, examSee LCSW →
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) May 2024; BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024–2034 projections; HRSA MH-HPSA designations 2024; SWU workforce research 2026. Data synthesized from public federal sources. Last updated April 2026. This page provides general career-planning data, not legal or licensing advice.