Equifax(US:EFX) Prnewswire·2025-12-04 12:45Core Insights - The inaugural Equifax Social Services Outlook Index reveals that 100% of government social service workers expect their work efficiency to improve in the coming year, with 57% attributing this to advancements in data and technology [1][2][3] Group 1: Efficiency Expectations - 54% of surveyed social service workers believe their current workplace is very efficient, and all respondents anticipate further improvements in efficiency [1][2] - 57% of social service workers indicate that data and technology will significantly enhance their efficiency in 2026 [3] Group 2: Challenges and Concerns - Key challenges identified include changing policies (49%), insufficient staffing (41%), and lack of automation (41%) [3] - 98% of government workers expect an increase in applicants with multiple income streams, indicating a growing complexity in their work [6][7] Group 3: Role of Data and Automation - 40% of social service workers expect a significant increase in their use of technology and automation in the next year [5] - 23% of workers believe that increased access to data will be a major factor in improving workplace efficiency [5] - 27% of respondents see technology and automation as crucial for determining appropriately sized benefits for eligible applicants [5] Group 4: Recommendations for Improvement - Suggested solutions for enhancing efficiency include simplifying eligibility and documentation requirements (38%), increasing internal communication and feedback (35%), and addressing accessibility barriers (34%) [8] - Nearly all social service workers (98%) agree that a universal intake process would enhance efficiency [9] Group 5: Experience and Advocacy for Change - Workers with over 10 years of experience are more likely to advocate for a universal intake form (54%) compared to less experienced peers (43%) [10] - 61% of experienced workers believe having one caseworker for multiple programs is beneficial, compared to 48% among less experienced staff [10]