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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Community and social service occupations

This occupational group includes counselors, social workers, health educators, probation officers, correctional treatment specialists, community health workers, clergy, and directors of religious activities.

For terms and definitions in this profile, see definitions of major terms.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2025, external verbal interactions were required constantly (every few minutes) for 35.1 percent of community and social service workers. External verbal interactions were required more than once per hour (but not constantly) for 54.2 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of community and social service workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Work schedule varies	36.7	63.3
Ability to pause work (and take brief unscheduled breaks)	75.2	24.8
Working around crowds	<0.5	>99.5
Telework routinely allowed	28.1	71.9
Supervising others	10.6	89.4
Supervisor present in immediate work area	35.4	64.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs. The time associated with these requirements is combined to calculate the specific vocational preparation level needed for the job.

In 2025, prior work experience was required for 62.1 percent of community and social service workers and on-the-job training was required for 75.6 percent.

A bachelor's degree was required for 34.1 percent of community and social service workers and a master's degree was required for 37.7 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various hazards or difficulties that are in the area where workers perform their critical tasks.

In 2025, a quiet noise exposure was present for 18.7 percent of community and social service workers. Another 81.3 percent were exposed to moderate noise, less than 0.5 percent were exposed to loud noise, and less than 0.5 percent to very loud noise. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by less than 0.5 percent of workers to mitigate noise exposure and was not used by greater than 99.5 percent.

Physical demands

The physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2025, speaking was required for greater than 99.5 percent of community and social service workers and was not required for less than 0.5 percent. For less than 0.5 percent of workers, speaking was seldom required, for 32.7 percent speaking was occasionally required, for 67.1 percent speaking was frequently required, and for less than 0.5 percent speaking was required constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 21.2 percent of community and social service workers and was not required for 78.8 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 71.7 percent of community and social service workers. On average, workers spent 76.1 percent of the workday sitting and 23.9 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of community and social service workers with physical demands, 2025
Requirement	Yes	No
Ability to choose to sit or stand for tasks	71.7	28.3
Driving	43.3	56.7
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	27.8	72.2
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey