Supporting those who are holding up society

The National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) have for the first time estimated the supply and demand for social work personnel. Preliminary findings show that the social worker supply-demand ratio could hit its lowest point by 2028. By 2034, the shortage of social workers working with older people could reach 30 percent, while the number of mental health social workers could reach a deficit of 20 percent.

Professionals in the field said caseloads are increasing, while pay and support have failed to keep pace. Social work education is increasingly misaligned with the actual needs of the workplace. Without timely efforts to address these shortcomings, those who continue working such jobs would face even greater exhaustion and more people would abandon the field.

At the end of last year, the recruitment rate for social safety net personnel — including social workers — was 82.8 percent, with 1,352 vacancies.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said the decline in recruitment rate was due to an increase in the number of available positions rather than a reduction in staff. However, surveys conducted this year by social worker unions in Taipei and Kaohsiung found that nearly 80 percent of respondents were experiencing moderate to high levels of work-related burnout.

Personnel retention requires reasonable compensation and a supportive work environment. The starting salary of social workers employed by private organizations with government subsidies have only risen from NT$34,916 in 2020 to NT$38,898. The ministry should promptly implement higher compensation for protective services social workers on night duty and those who work outside regular hours. It should also provide retention bonuses and professional development leave for experienced social workers, streamline performance evaluations and show respect for their professional expertise.

Social workers should not have to bear all responsibility and risks alone. The conviction of social worker Chen Shang-chieh (陳尚潔), who was responsible for overseeing the case of Kai Kai (剴剴) — a one-year-old boy who died in 2023 from abuse while in foster care — made many fear that they might be next.

The ministry in April said it would bring the Social Worker Act (社會工作師法) in line with the Medical Care Act (醫療法) and consider establishing professional review and assessment mechanisms. These efforts should be expedited. Reviews of major incidents should incorporate the perspectives of frontline social workers. When home visits pose risks, new social workers should be accompanied by more experienced colleagues or police — their safety should never be left to chance.

The government should consolidate subsidies and expand access to psychological counseling, so social workers and supervisors across different age groups and workplaces can benefit equally. The selection of supervisors should take into account the professional training a worker has received and their years of experience to ensure that they are equipped to mentor newcomers effectively. The government should also solicit feedback from frontline staff and clearly define protections for social workers. Schools should encourage students to explore careers in older people care and mental health services to meet future demand.

Social workers help people weather life’s storms. Those who hold up an umbrella for others should not be made to stand alone in the pouring rain. Society must first support social workers before they can continue supporting those in need. This is the only way to ensure that those with professional expertise and passion for caring for others remain on the frontlines.

Su Wei-cheng is a lecturer and a former secretary of the president of the Legislative Yuan.