The Healthier Working Lives Workforce Planning briefing paper looks at where the adult social care is now, and where it will go in the future.
It explains:
- The Health Foundation suggests that over 600,000 additional care workers will be required to meet demand in the UK over the next decade, in addition to the existing 1.5 million posts
- 74% of providers have reported an increase in staff exits since April 2021, with half of workers leaving due to stress and 44% finding better pay elsewhere
- Staff turnover is estimated to be 30% and rising, at a time when more and more people need care services
- In Scotland, 44% of care staff leave their job within one year of starting, and 24% within 2-5 years
- Even pre-Covid, 57% of staff were expecting to leave within the next decade.
However, 68% would still recommend working in social care - suggesting that staff generally want to stay if issues within the sector could be addressed.