Abstract: Interviews and questionnaires among social workers in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan, who can represent the whole picture of Guangdong Province, reveal the following findings. Job satisfaction of social workers in Guangdong Province is high in general; there is significant variations among the three cities: job satisfaction is the highest in Dongguan and the lowest in Shenzhen; salary and benefits, professional identity and social identity are the three major factors that influence social worker’s job satisfaction. Therefore, we should continually raise the salary of social workers and, by promoting professionalization, implementing social work policies and stepping up publicity efforts, progressively improve professional identity and social identity of social workers so as to stabilize a social work force.  

Key words: social workers, job satisfaction, factors