Social Care News

Adult social care providers in England facing 'workforce timebomb'

A report by the International Longevity Centre called The Future Care Workforce has said that the adult social care sector in England will need to add approximately 1 million workers by 2025 to cope with the country's ageing population.

The figure also takes into account a predicted increase in the number of people with disabilities who will require adult care services.

The report was published by the International Longevity Centre and not-for-profit housing group Anchor which commented on the report saying: "A staggering 40 per cent of England's working age population will need to enter the care profession to tackle a staffing timebomb. If current trends continue England could face a shortfall of 718,000 care workers by 2025."

The study, which draws on figures from the NHS and Office for National Statistics, concluded that a drive to attract more men into the profession is urgently needed to help plug the gap. Women currently make up 82% of the care workforce, according to the report.

Why care workers are in short supply according to the report

• Workers are typically low paid and there is evidence of some providers curtailing minimum wage laws.
• While working in the care sector can be rewarding it can also be emotionally challenging. The vast majority of care workers have faced verbal abuse (93%) and a significant proportion physical abuse (53%).
• Staff turnover is generally high, with higher staff turnover linked to an increased chance of death for those in care.
• The prevalence of training and qualifications across the sector is low adding to the perception that there are few learning and development opportunities.
• Women make up the vast proportion of the care workforce (80%) and there is also a high proportion of non-British workers (18.2%). It will be difficult to meet expected demand for care if recruitment focuses solely on these demographic groups. 

Read more on this story

• Daily Telegraph: Ageing population could lead to 718,000 carer shortfall in decade
• Anchor: Report calls for men to defuse care workforce timebomb
• International Longevity Centre: The Future Care Workforce