Human Services
About
The Human Services career cluster relates to meeting human needs through activities such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care and consumer services.
What is the role of human services?
The Human Services career cluster relates to meeting human needs through activities such as counseling and mental health services, family and community services, personal care and consumer services.
What is the role of human services?
- To provide food, shelter, income, job help, and counseling to people in need.
- In times of crisis, to offer disaster relief services and crisis support.
- To offer personal care for health, wellness, and beauty.
- To influence public opinion and advocate for social change.
- Quick facts -
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Social service jobs are in different sectors Government, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations employ more than 4 million workers in social assistance jobs. |
Strong need for workers Inner-city and rural communities have a significant need for workers but are often underserved by social services. |
Beauty services are expanding Over 1 million people work in beauty services, including salons, barber shops, nail studios, and spas. Jobs are growing much faster than average. |
Wage growth opportunities Although entry-level social services jobs often have low wages, experienced workers earn wages that are higher than the national average. |
Is a career in Human Services be a good fit for me?
Do you have compassion and empathy for others? The desire to alleviate suffering and empower individuals, groups, and communities to make the most of their own talents and resources is a valuable characteristic for people who work at jobs in this cluster. Here are some points to keep in mind:
Do you have compassion and empathy for others? The desire to alleviate suffering and empower individuals, groups, and communities to make the most of their own talents and resources is a valuable characteristic for people who work at jobs in this cluster. Here are some points to keep in mind:
- Social services workers often find job satisfaction from supporting clients and communities to develop resiliency.
- Many social work and counseling fields are growing faster than average, in specialties including school and career counseling, substance abuse, and rehabilitation.
- Personal care aide is one of the fastest growing of all occupations, with a very high number of job openings.
- Many beauty services careers depend on creativity and the desire to help clients feel good as well as look good. With experience, self-employment can be a strong option.
What are some careers in Human Services?
The foundation of Human Services work is to meet basic human needs and protect the most vulnerable in our society. This cluster also includes the personal care sector and funeral-related services.
Most social assistance work is community-based and focuses on preventing issues from developing for individuals and families, addressing problems when they occur, and advocating to improve social conditions and quality of life for groups of people.
Jobs are often located in state and local government offices and nonprofit organizations, for example mental health clinics, child and youth services, daycare centers, public health education groups, vocational rehabilitation agencies, employment programs, and homeless shelters.
There are in-demand opportunities available in human services at every level of education and training; see some examples below. Click any link to find out more about a career, including typical responsibilities, average wages, employment projections, training requirements and more.
High school diploma or less:
Short-term training (usually from a few months to two years):
Bachelor’s or graduate degree:
The foundation of Human Services work is to meet basic human needs and protect the most vulnerable in our society. This cluster also includes the personal care sector and funeral-related services.
Most social assistance work is community-based and focuses on preventing issues from developing for individuals and families, addressing problems when they occur, and advocating to improve social conditions and quality of life for groups of people.
Jobs are often located in state and local government offices and nonprofit organizations, for example mental health clinics, child and youth services, daycare centers, public health education groups, vocational rehabilitation agencies, employment programs, and homeless shelters.
There are in-demand opportunities available in human services at every level of education and training; see some examples below. Click any link to find out more about a career, including typical responsibilities, average wages, employment projections, training requirements and more.
High school diploma or less:
Short-term training (usually from a few months to two years):
- Barbers
- Crematory operators
- Exercise trainers and group fitness instructors
- Manicurists and pedicurists
- Massage therapists
Bachelor’s or graduate degree:
- Child, family, and school social workers
- Credit counselor
- Health education specialists
- Marriage and family therapists
- Social and community service managers
