Theme and Rationale for
Social Work Month 2025
Social Work: Compassion + Action
Social workers care about people. That is why so many people enter social work each year, making it one of the fastest growing professions in the United States.
However, social workers go through years of education and training so they can help individuals, families, communities and our society reach their full potential.
That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2025 is Social Work: Compassion + Action.
In the weeks and months ahead, social workers will be called to turn their compassion into action to help our nation address a variety of societal challenges, including the prospect there could be mass deportations of migrants and continued attacks on the people who are LGBTQIA2+, reproductive rights, and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Social workers are also on the forefront of helping our nation address a mental health and substance use disorder crisis and chronic income inequality that has led to rising homelessness.
The theme also focuses on the need for social housing orders to take care of ourselves. Just as airlines instruct passengers to put on their own oxygen masks before helping others in an emergency, social workers must prioritize compassion for themselves to effectively support those in need.
About Social Workers
Social workers are everywhere—in our communities, in hospitals, the halls of Congress and in local governments, corporations, social service agencies, veterans’ centers, as well as schools, sporting institutions, and more. They’re also in demand. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the social work profession is projected to grow 7 percent between now and 2033—faster than the average for all occupations. By then, more than 836,000 social workers will be employed here in the United States. Social workers undergo years of schooling and training, gaining the expertise needed to support communities and individuals. They excel at meeting people where they are and provide compassionate guidance and help.