Vacancy rates have increased in the adult social care sector from 6.1% in April 2021 to 10.3% in April 2022, according to Skills for Care’s latest workforce tracking data.
During the pandemic vacancy rates dropped with fewer jobs being available in other sectors and some care workers reporting they felt they had to help the sector through the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak. As the pandemic declined, and as the wider economy opened back up, vacancy rates started to rise, and are now higher than they were before COVID-19.
At the same time, the number of filled posts are falling. Between March 2021 and April 2022, the number of filled posts has fallen by 4.4%. Care homes with nursing have shown the greatest fall, with 6% fewer jobs.