The UK’s healthcare industry is currently facing enormous challenges, with an ageing population and labour force being the two biggest ones.
According to the report, even though the industry has experienced significant demand due to the ageing population, 95% of care providers are still having trouble filling positions while at least 105,000 vacancies available.
According to Grace Hanley, founder of Sussex Staffing Solutions: “the work force is shrinking, while the population is expanding and people are getting older.”
There are several causes for this labour shortage, including the undervaluation of care work in the UK and the low pay it receives in comparison to other professions.
Care workers made up 1/3rd of those who quit their jobs in 2020–21 because they were underpaid.
People who desire to work in adult social care are unable to do so since it is not accorded the same level of professional recognition.
The hours of work are not flexible enough, according to Chukwuemeka Noddum, a healthcare worker in Brighton, and there is also a transportation problem because shifts that start extremely early in the morning require two bus transfers and trains to go to work.
