Community Support Worker: Job Market

by Barbara Bellesi

Community support workers -- also known as community outreach workers and human service assistants -- do many things for many people. Individuals who work to support the community have a variety of different jobs and titles, including case manager and life skills counselor. Any role that involves helping people for the better of the whole community is one that falls under the umbrella heading of community support worker.

Duties of a community support worker

Community support workers provide needed services and assistance to people within the community. They usually assist other people in health care and the social or behavioral sciences, including nurses, doctors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.

Community support workers help clients who need counseling as well as have basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. They also provide people with necessary emotional support during tough times. Community support workers also serve the community in better times; for example, some work to organize and lead group activities that will foster a sense of community among people.

Above all, a community support worker must have excellent communication skills, as well as a love of working with many different people.

Where to find community support worker jobs

More than 60 percent of community support workers are employed in the health care and social assistance industries. About 30 percent are hired by state and local governments for positions in welfare places and mental health facilities, among others.

Community support worker programs

Many employers prefer that individuals have at least some college experience in order to be hired as a community support worker. There are many certificate and diploma programs in the behavioral and social sciences that can fulfill this requirement. However, if you wish to advance in an organization, a college degree is needed.

Demand for community support workers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for community support workers is expected to increase by over 30 percent by the year 2016. Many baby boomers will be retiring, thus vacating spots in the workforce that need to be filled by new employees. Also, general population growth will cause an increase in the need for community service, thus causing a growth in employment for community support workers.