Is this the worst year for the ASYE Job Market (or has it always been bad)?
I am graduating from my degree this year. When I decided to do a social work degree, I never thought getting a job would be that difficult. I understand the LAs are investing more in apprenticeships and less in degree or master's students to be more cost-efficient, but this year it has been difficult to get a job. A lot of LAs only do internal ASYE openings for apprenticeship graduates, and many expressed that they are not making room for reduced-workload NQSWs anymore. Job openings are rare, and even when they do arise, they close weeks earlier, signalling a real mismatch between social work graduates and job availability. Of all things, I've felt betrayed (and so have a lot of classmates who are graduating at the same time), and it is stupid not to make room for new ASYEs.
IF you're thinking of pursuing social work in your career - DO AN APPRENTICESHIP.