England’s adult social care sector added a record £77.8 billion to the economy in 2024/25, but Skills for Care warns urgent action is needed to secure its workforce
As reported by National Health Executive, Fresh analysis from the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set – covering more than 700,000 staff across 21,000 care settings – paints a detailed picture of the sector’s health and its growing pressures.
Vacancy levels have eased back to pre-pandemic rates of 7%, yet recruitment and retention remain major hurdles. The number of UK-born care workers has fallen by around 30,000, and international hires have almost halved, dropping from 105,000 to 50,000. The figures underline the sector’s dependence on overseas recruitment and the pressing need for a long-term domestic workforce plan.
Overall, total job roles in adult social care rose by 2.2%, with filled posts climbing by 3.4% to reach 1.6 million – reflecting the sector’s expanding role as both a vital public service and a key part of the UK economy.
Higher staffing levels and the uplift in the National Living Wage have also boosted the sector’s economic contribution and helped raise average pay.
Snapshot of the sector
111,000 vacancies – down 12.4% year on year
Men now represent a record 22% of the workforce
Turnover in the independent sector has dropped to 24.7%
62% of employers offer no enhanced sick pay
57% do not provide improved pension contributions
Only 38% of care workers now hold a Level 2 qualification
Skills for Care identified five conditions that make staff more likely to stay: decent pay, relevant qualifications, secure contracts, training access, and full-time work. Employees without any of these supports are three times more likely to leave (42.2% compared with 14.4%).
With the over-65 population set to surge, projections suggest 470,000 new care roles will be needed by 2040 – a 27% rise. The report calls for urgent action to improve job quality, training, and career pathways to strengthen and stabilise the workforce.
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