Employment support worker
Also known as: employment rights worker, employability support worker, job placement social worker, supported employment worker, employment social worker, unemployment social worker
About this occupation
Employment support workers provide assistance to people with difficulties to find a job and long-term unemployed people. They provide guidance in the creation CVs, searching for job openings, contacting employers, and the preparation for job interviews.
A specialisation of social worker.
Essential skills and knowledge
- undertake continuous professional development in social work
- apply crisis intervention
- prevent social problems
- deliver social services in diverse cultural communities
- manage ethical issues within social services
- reflect on practice
- manage social crisis
- plan social service process
- delegate activities
- involve service users and carers in care planning
- personal development
- apply anti-oppressive practices
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Rehabilitation Counselors (O*NET 21-1015.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Develop rehabilitation plans that fit clients' aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals.
- Confer with clients to discuss their options and goals so that rehabilitation programs and plans for accessing needed services can be developed.
- Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation, such as clients' personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts, or relevant correspondence.
- Locate barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, or transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.
- Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients' abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.
- Monitor and record clients' progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 5 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Enterprising, Investigative
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation
US median pay: US$46,850 a year (2025), 94,740 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.4)
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.1)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.3)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
- Mental Health Counselors
- Healthcare Social Workers
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Occupational Therapy Aides
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Occupational Therapists
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.