Examining Social Workers’ Perceptions of Structural Barriers In the Profession: A Thematic Analysis of Tiktok Discourse

Background and Purpose: Social work is grounded in commitments to equity and social justice, yet structural conditions within the profession do not fully reflect these values in its own institutional practices. Financial barriers such as unpaid internships, high educational costs, licensing fees, and wages not commensurate with degree requirements present challenges and influence who can pursue and sustain social work careers. These conditions may disproportionately affect individuals from marginalized socioeconomic backgrounds and contribute to concerns about workforce sustainability. Increasingly, social workers discuss these experiences publicly on social media, sharing perspectives on professional culture, barriers to entry, and working conditions. Despite growing public discourse, little research has examined how social workers describe structural barriers within the profession. This study addresses this gap by using thematic analysis of TikTok videos posted under the hashtag #socialwork to examine how social workers characterize structural challenges shaping the profession.

Methods: The top 50 TikTok videos appearing under the hashtag #socialwork were selected for thematic analysis using a newly created account to minimize algorithmic personalization. Following TikTok’s user agreements, only publicly accessible videos were included. Selected videos were in English and retrieved the same day. Transcribed verbal content and visual, textual, and auditory components were analyzed using NVivo 14. Using open coding and constant comparative methods, a preliminary codebook was developed and iteratively refined. Two coders independently coded a subset of videos to establish consensus before the remaining videos were coded independently. The research team met regularly to discuss code development and refine themes.

Results: Protagonists featured in the videos were 94% women and approximately 57% people of color. Major themes reflected social workers’ perceptions of structural barriers within the profession. Financial hardship was a dominant theme, including narratives describing unpaid internships, high tuition costs, licensing and examination fees, and salaries perceived as inconsistent with educational requirements. Barriers to entry and advancement frequently appeared alongside these concerns, suggesting a relationship between financial strain and entry into the profession, particularly within social work education and credentialing processes. Additional themes included critiques of diversity initiatives within the profession, expectations of a white-normative professional identity, and self-advocacy and self-care as strategies for navigating professional environments.

Conclusions and Implications: Findings illustrate how social workers publicly articulate concerns about structural conditions shaping the profession. Their narratives highlight barriers that may influence recruitment, retention, and experiences of belonging within the field. This study contributes to emerging research examining social workers’ perceptions of the profession and offers insight into how structural inequities may be reproduced within professional education and employment structures. Although the use of publicly available TikTok videos may reduce social desirability bias, the nature of pre-recorded content limited opportunities for member checking to verify themes identified in the analysis. Future research should further examine the relationship between financial hardship and barriers to entry within social work education and credentialing processes. Understanding these dynamics can inform discussions about educational pathways, credentialing practices, and workforce conditions, offering evidence to support efforts to strengthen access, sustainability, and equity within the profession.