Younger people ‘most likely’ to consider a career in adult social care, survey
Younger people in England aged 18-34 are the most likely to consider applying for a job in adult social care, according to new figures from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The survey comes as part of the next phase of the Department’s ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ adult social care recruitment campaign, which aims to attract people with the right values to help fill the 122,000 vacancies across the sector to support some of the most vulnerable in society.
The interest from younger people who will form the next generation of adult social care workers has been welcomed. The average age of those working in the sector is 45 years old, and around 385,000 jobs are held by people aged 55 years old who are likely to retire in the next ten years.
The campaign will continue to target 20-39 year olds, to ‘help capitalise on interest and raise awareness of the variety, benefits and progression offered by a career in care’.
Minister for Care Caroline Dinenage (pictured) said: “A career in adult social care offers the rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society– a sentiment 96% of current care workers on the ground agree with.
“We have over a million brilliant people working in the sector, but we urgently need new talent to ensure we can continue to provide support for those who need it.
“I hope our ‘When you care, every day makes a difference’ campaign will draw more people with the right values to forge fulfilling careers and help them realise how diverse, worthwhile and often flexible jobs in social care can be. I urge anyone considering a career in care to apply today.”
The survey of 2,020 adults shows:
- 64% of 18-34 year olds would consider a career in adult social care.
- Over half of people aged 18-24 (57%) and 25-34 (56%) would consider changing career for a job that helps or supports others.
- More than one in ten people aged 18-24 (13%) and 25-34 (14%) are dissatisfied with their current job.
- 59 would consider moving roles to a job which offers more personal fulfilment.
- 65% of parents with dependent children would consider a role in adult social care.
Nearly 1.5 million people work in the sector, but an ageing population means that social care workers are more in demand than ever before, with an additional 580,000 workers needed by 2035.
The campaign was launched in February aiming to attract new people with the right values to the sector and increase interest in adult social care as a vocation.
Picture (c) Dominic Lipinski / PA Wire.
