Though social work as a profession emerged very recently, with the large-scale participation of NGOs in development programmes in the country, the career has taken off in a big way. The current budget has given it a tremendous boost, as the government is allocating a considerably larger budget for rural development work.

As there exists a great lack of personnel at the grassroot level, all major agencies involved in development and rehabilitation work are looking for professionally qualified staff to work in the problem areas and are willing to pay well.

New fields like maintaining ecological awareness, gerontology and AIDS education are also emerging, where there is an urgent need for the professional skills of a social worker.

The scope for the MSW in the corporate and industrial sector is immense. There are several top organizations both in the private and in the public sector, where senior positions such as that of vice-presidents, general managers, directors and so on are occupied by those with a Master's degree in social work.

Some enterprising individuals have set up NGOs which are making a significant contribution in the field of social and development work.

According to a study carried out, 93 per cent of students passing out of this field find suitable employment.