What is the social service sector in Singapore?
The social service sector in Singapore refers to the network of organisations and initiatives dedicated to providing social support, welfare, and assistance to individuals and communities in need.
The National Council of Social Service is the umbrella body for over 450 social service organisations in Singapore. Its mission is to provide leadership and direction in:
- Enhancing the capabilities and capacity of every member organisation
- Advocating for social service needs
- Strengthening strategic partnerships for an effective social service ecosystem
To date, there are more than 20,000 social service professionals working across five main areas, all focused on enhancing the well-being of the Singaporean community:
- Disabilities and special needs
- Children and youth
- Mental health
- Seniors
- Families
The sector’s myriad of social service professionals, such as social workers, counsellors, psychologists, and therapists, take on a multi-disciplinary team approach, working together to help strengthen and build this community.
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What is the outlook for Singapore’s social service sector?
Given the increasingly complex needs of Singapore’s modern society, the social service sector is projected to grow, with rising demand for skilled and enterprising professionals.
Due to Singapore’s ageing population, there are growing needs within vulnerable groups such as the elderly, unemployed, and disabled. Thankfully there has been a notable shift in the mindset regarding working in the social service sector in Singapore in recent years.
Given the specialised skills and knowledge required for the role of social workers, WSG’s Career Conversion Programme for Social Workers has been pivotal in making it more accessible for those who are interested in a career change into social work.
The programme saw almost a 15 percent increase in mid-career individuals enrolment between 2020 and 2022, compared with the pre-Covid-19 years from 2017 to 2019. This led to the number of social service professionals surpassing 20,000 in 2022, compared to over 15,000 in 2019.
Singapore’s social service sector is actively hiring
With more than 30 diverse job roles spanning nine broad career fields, job opportunities are aplenty in Singapore’s social service sector. So, if you’re keen on joining the sector, there’s no better time than now to hop aboard! Here are some useful reads to help you learn more about the sector.
Salary Guide Singapore 2023: Social Services Sector
Career Outlook of a Social Worker in Singapore
5 Myths About Working in the Social Service Sector Debunked
How and Why This Creative Director Became a Social Worker
My Career Change: How and Why Social Service is Right for Me
Emotional Resilience: This Guy Overcame His Troubled Youth and Became a Social Worker
