Sociology and Social Science Studies
Apply sociological principles and social science research methods to analyse societal structures, behaviours, and policies.
Skill demand · ONS UK online job adverts
How common is social sciences?
This requirement appears in 7.3% of UK new online job adverts in 2025. Its share fell by 1.4 percentage points compared with 2024.
The latest year is partial. Comparisons with full years need care. 2026 figures have not been published yet.Share of new adverts7.3%UK · 2025
Change in share-1.4 pp2024 to 2025
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What this skill category covers
Official detailed requirements in this ONS group
Geography Knowledge
Understanding of geographical principles and their applications in research or planning.
Justice Studies Knowledge
Understanding of justice systems, legal principles, and societal impacts.
International Relations Knowledge
Understanding of global political, economic, and social relationships between nations.
Socioeconomics and Economic Policy
Analyse socioeconomics and develop economic policies to address social challenges and promote growth.
Philanthropy and Fundraising
Plan and manage charitable giving and fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations.
Communication Theory Knowledge
Understanding of communication theories and their application in various contexts.
Ethnographic Research Methods
Studying cultural practices through observation and qualitative analysis.
Social History and Cultural Studies
Study social history and cultural developments to understand societal evolution and historical contexts.
International Development Knowledge
Knowledge of strategies and practices for promoting economic and social development globally.
Public Opinion Analysis
Interpreting survey data to understand societal attitudes and trends.
Political Rights and Advocacy
Advocate for voting rights and political opportunities to support democratic participation.
ONS Table 1 detailed requirements · SCO01.12. Shares can overlap because an advert may mention several requirements.
Roles that often need this skill category
Occupations where social sciences appears most often in UK new adverts
| # | Occupation | Share of occupation adverts | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social workers Example titles: Social worker · Team leader · Field worker · Team manager | 84.9% | |
| 2 | Probation officers Example titles: Probation officer · Youth justice officer · Inspector · Chief probation officer | 79.7% | |
| 3 | Prison service officers (below principal officer) Example titles: Prison officer · Prison warden · Borstal officer · Prison auxiliary | 47.2% | |
| 4 | Youth work professionals Example titles: Youth worker · Senior youth worker · Youth offending officer · Youth worker in charge | 46.2% | |
| 5 | Youth and community workers Example titles: Youth and community worker · Club leader · Team manager · Youth leader | 46.1% | |
| 6 | Early education and childcare services proprietors Example titles: Children's nursery owner · Children's nursery director · Owner · Director | 45.4% | |
| 7 | Police community support officers Example titles: Police community support officer · Rail community officer · PCSO · Civilian support officer | 44.2% | |
| 8 | Child and early years officers Example titles: Child care officer · Case worker · Pastoral lead · Access officer | 43.9% | |
| 9 | Barristers and judges Example titles: Judge · Circuit judge · Sheriff clerk · Crown advocate | 43.2% | |
| 10 | Housing officers Example titles: Housing officer · Hostel officer · Housing factor · Support worker | 42.3% |
How related skills compare
Skills within Academic and Scientific Research
| # | Skill | Share of adverts | Change (pp) | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Sciences Selected skill · Sociology and Social Science Studies · Geography Knowledge · Justice Studies Knowledge | 7.3% | -1.4 pp | |
| 2 | Science and Research Observational Research and Empirical Methods · Understanding Scientific Principles · Biological Science Knowledge | 3.0% | +0.4 pp | |
| 3 | Humanities and Social Sciences Cultural Exchange Program Management Skills · Anthropology and Humanities Study Knowledge · Religious Studies and Theology | 1.0% | +0.2 pp | |
| 4 | Physical Sciences Physics and Advanced Computational Science · Natural Science Knowledge · Space Sciences | 0.9% | +0.1 pp | |
| 5 | Academic Research Note-Taking and Reference Management Tools · Information Access · Document Preparation Systems | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 6 | Media and Research Methods Fact-Checking Techniques | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 7 | Legal and Social Sciences Criminology and Organized Crime Knowledge | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 8 | Engineering and Scientific Computing Finite Element Analysis and Simulation Software · Computer Algebra Systems · Electromagnetic Simulation Software Skills | 0.1% | 0.0 pp | |
| 9 | Mathematics and Applied Domains Spatial Reasoning Skills · Game Theory Concepts | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 10 | Physics and Optics Optical Dispersion Theory · Wave Physics and Optics Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 11 | Natural Sciences Mineralogy Knowledge · Geology Knowledge · Palaeontology | 0.0% | 0.0 pp | |
| 12 | Physics and Astronomy Stellar System Concept Knowledge | 0.0% | 0.0 pp |
About these figures
How to interpret skill demand
Source: Office for National Statistics, UK online job adverts. Shares describe new adverts reporting the requirement. An advert may mention several skills, so their shares do not add up to 100%. A rise from 10% to 12% is an increase of 2 percentage points.
These figures do not establish a salary premium, proficiency level, or which skills are requested together. This page has no published skill-specific salary or location breakdown.
ONS · 2025 · partial year · 2026 figures have not been published yet. · Open Government Licence v3.0. ONS does not endorse Jobmundo.