Care sector in North Wales could create 25,000 jobs

Industry experts believe the ageing population will lead to tens of thousands of jobs over the next 20 years. The care sector could create an extra 25,000 jobs in North Wales over the next two decades due to a rise in the number of older people.

That was the message from the Care Forum Wales who said the sector – that is already worth an estimated £1billion to the local economy – could produce a massive boost to the economy as people continue to live longer.

It comes as Colwyn Bay firm Abacare Care Agency creates 50 new jobs and comes just two weeks after plans were approved for a dementia centre in Abergele that will bring another 80 jobs.

Mario Kreft, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “The contribution of the social care sector in North Wales is immense because it underpins so much of the broader economic sector.

“It’s typically an invisible contribution because people don’t recognise it but the sector employs more than 5% of the North Wales workforce.

“It not only provides vital services but also enables people to remain economically active.

“Importantly, most of the money that goes to social care goes in wages that are spent in the local community.

“We estimate that between 25,000 and 30,000 people are employed in social care in North Wales and we expect that to significantly increase because the demographics – despite the positive developments in technology and so forth.

“Over the next 20 years, the social care workforce in North Wales could double – so we could be looking at the sector employing more than 50,000 over the 20 year period.

“We are going to need a lot more highly skilled people and they will be a positive economic driver in their communities.”

Over the last 50 years, from 1960 t0 2010, the average life span has increased by around 10 years for a man and eight years for a woman.

Meanwhile the number of people living to 100 in England and Wales has risen five-fold, from 2,280 in 1980 to 11,610 in 2010.

Mr Kreft added: “Any careful examination of the statistics will show without any doubt that across the system we are going to need a significant increase in talented, qualified, skilled people and we are going to have to deliver that through  further education and higher education, with business support.

“It’s positive news for our economic prospects and it’s high time we woke up to that fact.”

The latest jobs created in the sector are from Abacare Care Agency who need to employ another 50 live-in social care workers. They need people across the North Wales area.

Gillian Roderigues, HR manager at Abacare, said: “This is a great opportunity for individuals who are looking to work in the industry or are looking for a complete career change.”