Demand for social workers remains high and it is accepted that immediate action and longer term workforceplanning will be necessary to create a sufficiently large, confident andcompetent workforce. However, there are more social workers in Scotland now than at any time in thepast, a net increase of 51 qualified social workers in the current year, and25% more graduates entering the workforce this year than last.Inaddition, projected figures on active social work students at the universitiesshows increased numbers, from 1,803 students in 2004 to 2,006 students in 2008.Many employers are also focusing ongenerating their own social workers through trainee schemes and throughcombining active recruitment with effective “grow your own” policies.