Breakdown of Practising Social Workers in Singapore by Sector and Experience, and Impact of Shortages on Key Social Service Areas

Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is the latest estimated number of practising social workers in Singapore; and (b) what proportion are employed in social service agencies, government agencies and other sectors respectively, with a breakdown by years of professional experience where available.

Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) which social service areas currently face the greatest shortages of experienced social workers; and (b) how these shortages affect caseloads, waiting times, and service delivery, particularly in child protection, family services, disability services and eldercare.

Answer:

             As of 2025, there were about 5,600 social workers employed in Singapore. Of these, 48% were employed in social and community care services, 23% were employed in Government agencies, and 18% were employed in healthcare services. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) does not track years of professional experience across the sector.

2.          Demand for social workers has been growing, particularly in family services, early intervention and disability services. Together with social service agencies (SSAs), we monitor caseloads, waiting times and service delivery. Our responses are not limited to manpower interventions, as service performance can also be improved through better prioritisation of higher-risk and urgent cases, considering if certain tasks can be better performed by other personnel, or the deployment of technology.

3.          MSF and NCSS work closely with SSAs to strengthen recruitment and retention, including expanding pathways into the sector, supporting professional development, ensuring fair and competitive salaries, and improving productivity through technology. MSF also works with the sector to pace service expansion in line with needs and manpower capacity. These efforts help SSAs meet growing demand, while providing timely and quality services.