Factors associated with job satisfaction and burnout among rural and urban social workers

This study investigated levels of professional burnout and job satisfaction among rural and urban social workers. Few studies have examined rates of job burnout and satisfaction among social workers. Even less has been done to understand differences in burnout and job satisfaction between rural and urban social workers. This is important given that the recruitment and retention of social workers in rural settings is an ongoing problem. Data were gathered across a random sample of 1,665 social workers in eight primarily rural states. These groups were assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (1996), a job satisfaction instrument adapted from Jerrell (1983), and from open-ended questions. Correlates of burnout and job satisfaction are compared between groups, and profiles of each group are discussed.