Among the 371 social work positions in the province, there are a reported 99 vacancies, and that remains a serious concern for the province’s largest public sector union.

NAPE President Jerry Earle has long outlined his concerns over social work vacancies that are having an impact on the delivery of services and burdening remaining workers with unmanageable case loads.

He says people may not realize the value of social workers in society in general, and he calls the vacancies “extremely concerning.”

A survey before the pandemic showed alarming results, prompting the union to raise the matter with government officials at the time.