Our Scans · (ZY.4.25) Social Work · Weekly Summary

• [New] The workforce need for social workers will continue to be strong in 2026, with a call for social workers in areas such as healthcare and mental health care, children and families, school social work, substance use and addiction services, and policy development. Adelphi University
• [New] As whole-person care (the patient-centered integration of healthcare, behavioral health, and social services) continues to be adopted in California and beyond, we will see HIEs and community-based organizations sharing more information in 2026. LANES
• [New] While standard inflation has leveled off, long-term care rate increases in 2026 are projected to range between 4% and 8%, significantly higher than the 2.8% Social Security COLA. SavingAdvice.com Blog
• [New] Social Security work rules will change in 2026, letting people earn more before benefits are cut. Economic Times
• In 2026, health and social care will lean more heavily into predictive workforce analytics and will seek AI models grounded in real operational data as leaders take action to deliver transformation, including change demanded by national policies, such as the 10 year health plan. Digital Health
• Starting in 2026, significant updates to Social Security rules will affect how Americans can work while receiving benefits. SWC NEWS
• In 2026, technology-enabled care will complete its shift from a peripheral innovation to core infrastructure in health and social care. Med-Tech Insights
• Both attackers and defenders are expected to more heavily utilise agentic AI to carry out their work, Google Threat Intelligence said, with cybercriminals also expected to accelerate the use of highly manipulative AI-enabled social engineering in 2026. Information Age
• Transitional measures announced by Cooper to smooth over the cancellation of social care visas, by allowing employers to hire staff who arrived in the UK by another route, are due to expire in 2028. The Guardian
• With two-thirds of social media marketers already collaborating closely with their customer care and commerce teams, the lines separating customer touchpoints will continue to blur in 2026. MarTech Cube - Marketing Technology news and Martech In
• States will end up subsidizing emergency room care and other services for people who end up uninsured, as well as responding to other financial strains caused by cuts to health, education and social programs imposed by the Trump administration and Congress. Guttmacher Institute
• TrustX offers an assurance pathway that reduces risk for NHS and social care organizations adopting Agentic AI across clinical and operational pathways. UKAuthority
• As Canada moves closer to the UK model, where social prescriptions are applied to all ages as part of their comprehensive Universal Personalized Care program, the economic incentives will keep pace with the benefits to individuals. alumni UBC
• In Minnesota, Rochester Public Schools will lose $1.9 million reserved for tuition assistance to train diverse social work candidates. Becker's Behavioral Health
• By 2026, 25% of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social interaction, or entertainment. Devsu
• Japan's government has identified dementia as one of its most urgent policy challenges, with the Health Ministry estimating that dementia-related health and social care costs will reach 14 trillion yen ($90bn; £67bn) by 2030 - up from nine trillion yen in 2025. BBC News
• China will accelerate the green transition in all areas of economic and social development, work actively and prudently toward peak carbon emissions, and make greater contributions to addressing climate change. Friends of Socialist China
• As Gartner reports, by 2026, 25% of people will spend at least one hour per day in the metaverse for work, shopping, education, social media, or entertainment. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu
• In recent years, social security systems across the globe have undergone significant reforms aimed at responding to shifting demographics, persistent social and economic vulnerabilities, and the rapidly changing nature of work. International Social Security Association (ISSA)
• Care jobs, including Nursing Professionals, Social Work and Counselling Professionals, and Personal Care Aides are expected to see significant growth over the next five years, driven by demographic trends, especially aging populations. Edaith

Last updated: 15 January 2026