Government agencies employ a significant proportion of sociologists to deal with such issues as poverty, crime, public assistance, population policy, social rehabilitation, community development, mental health, racial and ethnic relations, and environmental impact studies. Sociologists in the Federal Government work primarily for the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, Health and Human Services, and Defense. Sociologists specializing in demography work for international organizations such as the World Bank, the United Nations, and World Health Organization and Federal agencies such as the Bureau of the Census. Sociologists specializing in criminal work primarily for law enforcement agencies in State and local government. Sociologists also hold managerial, research, and planning positions in research firms, consulting firms, educational institutions, corporations, professional and trade associations, hospitals, and welfare or other nonprofit organizations.
Some sociologists have private practices in counseling, research, or consulting.
Besides the jobs described above, about 13,000 persons held sociology faculty positions in colleges and universities. As the job market gets tighter through the year 2000, a Ph.D. will be increasingly required for virtually all academic and professional sociologist positions. Sociologists with master's degrees can qualify for administrative and research positions in public agencies and private businesses. Training in research, statistical, and computer methods is an advantage in obtaining such positions. Advancement opportunities are more limited for master's degree holders than for Ph.Ds.