J. Juan Macias is assistant director of career and professional development at the USC School of Social Work.

The demand for social workers has never been greater. In fact, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics projects a 19% faster-than-average growth in social work jobs until 2022.

But the need for social workers in business and non-profit administrative settings is just being recognised. Companies around the world are starting to realise the value of social workers and the transferable skills they can bring to the workplace.

Increasingly, organisations are looking for professionals who can help address a range of issues; from the safety, health and wellbeing of employees to improving a company’s financial, social and environmental performance.

Social workers with master’s degrees have a significant amount of clinical experience, and when coupled with stringent licensing requirements, they have never been better positioned to thrive and contribute in a non-traditional, private sector setting.

Social workers are good at understanding human behaviour, motivation and interpersonal relationships, as well as workforce challenges. Corporate social workers take on many roles, from helping employees manage the demands of work, life and mental health issues to helping companies build positive relationships with their communities. That might mean helping employees deal with substance abuse, domestic violence, divorce or military deployments. It could also include coaching work teams on how to be more productive, resolve conflicts and manage change. Or, it might involve liaising with government agencies or conducting community needs assessments.

Read more in The Guardian.