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A new report from Skills for Care shows that the adult social care workforce in England is growing again, with 52,000 more care roles filled in 2024/25 than the previous year. However, the number of British workers in the sector continues to fall, and overall vacancy rates remain high.
The National Care Forum (NCF), which represents not-for-profit care providers, including BCOP, has responded to the report by calling on the government to urgently invest in the care workforce.
Skills for Care’s annual Size and Structure of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce report for 2025 highlights the following key findings:
There were 1.71 million care jobs in England in 2024/25 – a 2.2% increase from the year before.
The number of filled roles rose by 52,000, reaching 1.60 million.
There are still 111,000 job vacancies in adult social care, although this is 16,000 fewer than the previous year.
The vacancy rate is 7%, which is similar to pre-pandemic levels, but still three times higher than the wider economy.
The number of people arriving from overseas to take up care roles fell sharply from 105,000 in 2023/24 to just 50,000 in 2024/25.
At the same time, 30,000 fewer British nationals are working in care compared to last year, continuing a trend that has seen an overall drop of 85,000 since 2020.
West Midlands region data, June 2025
Vic Rayner OBE, Chief Executive of the National Care Forum, said that while the increase in jobs is welcome, the figures also highlight a growing problem with recruiting and keeping British care workers:
“We should make no mistake that this report underlines the need for action to build a resilient social care workforce that is fit for the future.
“The number of care jobs filled by British nationals continues to fall, and vacancy levels are still very high. To meet the needs of our ageing population, we will need to create and fill another 470,000 care roles by 2040.”
Vic Rayner is urging the government to fully fund the upcoming Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care, which would help improve pay and working conditions for care workers. She also stressed the need for immediate funding to support providers in recruiting and retaining staff.
“This picture will only improve if the government takes strong and purposeful action to show care workers they are valued and appreciated.”
The NCF points out that a detailed workforce strategy has already been developed by Skills for Care in partnership with sector leaders. This plan sets out the number and type of care roles needed over the next 15 years, as well as the training and support required.
Vic Rayner says the next step is simple:
“We urge the government to commit resource and energy to work with the sector to see that plan achieved.”
The National Care Forum (NCF) here
BCOP is a proud member of the National Care Forum, working alongside other not-for-profit care providers to support older people and promote quality, person-centred care.