More social care jobs are unfilled than before the pandemic, with care providers facing acute problems in recruiting and retaining staff, according to a workforce charity.
The annual Skills for Care report, based on data from employers of England’s 1.54 million care workers, shows that 8 per cent of posts were not filled before the pandemic. This rose to 8.2 per cent by August this year, equivalent to more than 100,000 vacancies.
In a separate report, Skills for Care also said adult social care contributes £50.3 billion to the economy in England and provides significant societal benefits.
During the pandemic, social care’s economic activity increased by 7.7 per cent, while other sectors saw their activity stall or shrink by up to 4 per cent overall.
LGA Community Wellbeing Board Chairman Cllr David Fothergill said: “This report is the most striking evidence yet that social care still faces a huge recruitment and retention crisis, and that we urgently need to see action on staff pay, conditions, skills and training.
“It also confirms that providers who can invest in their workforce produce better care outcomes, but we also need to see greater progress on equality and diversity.”
He added: “The Spending Review and forthcoming white paper must set out how immediate and short-term pressures in social care will be addressed, including on the workforce, and involve councils, care workers and those with lived experience if we are to build back better and develop a care and support system fit for the future.”