To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) the average wages paid to social care sector workers and (b) the current number of vacancies in the sector.
Answered on
10 January 2025
Skills for Care reports that most care workers as the entry-level occupation are paid on or just above National Living Wage. Average or mean hourly pay for all workers in the sector was £12.36 in March 2024. Skills for Care also reported that the overall vacancy rate in adult social care (ASC) decreased to 8.3% in 2023/24, or 131,000 vacant posts, from 9.9% or 153,000 vacant posts in 2022/23. Monthly estimates by Skills for Care suggest that the vacancy rate amongst independent social care providers fell further between March and November 2024. Vacancies reflect roles advertised by independent providers and therefore market conditions.
To improve retention and recognition in the ASC sector, the Government is currently introducing legislation to pave the way for the first ever Fair Pay Agreement so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do.