Almost one in five NHS and social care workers are planning to leave the industry

The cost-of-living crisis is set to compound worker burnout, with 16% of NHS and social care staff claiming they want to leave the health care sector.  

New research conducted by Florence, a tech platform providing health and social care workers access to their shifts, found 43% of workers are considering a job change due to current pressures. 

Florence surveyed over 1,000 health and social care workers and discovered 28% admit to feeling overwhelmed at least once a week, with 17% being burnt out every day. 

97% of healthcare professionals believe the cost-of-living crisis has contributed to applying further stress onto an industry that was already struggling. 

A&E wait times have reached the highest level they have in over 10 years and over six million people are on the waiting list for hospital treatments, according to Florence.  

However, research suggests conditions are set to worsen as nearly nine in 10 health and social care workers expecting wait times to increase throughout the rest of 2022.  

Fiona Millington, Chief Nurse at Florence argues vacancy rates are a big problem within the sector as she calls them the ‘biggest challenge for the industry at the moment.’ 

‘The number of vaccines still sits above 105,000 and remains much higher than the overall unemployment rate,’ she said.  

‘The NHS is plugging vacancies with resources from other countries and areas, but it has become just a constant cycle of crisis management, without developing long term solutions to the problem.’ 

As well as staff leaving the health care sector due to stress, another report has found the sector is set to lose positions because of automation and technological advances.  

Arden University discovered the human health and social work sector is set to lose 851,318 jobs by 2030. 

With more jobs set to involve working alongside new technologies, the research found only a minority of employees are comfortable working with developing digital technology. 

Carl Lygo, CEO and Vice Chancellor at Arden University said: ‘As automation begins to play a greater role in economic production, it will disrupt these industries with the effects being felt across society and the nation’s economy. 

‘Upskilling is most urgent, particularly for employees who may not have the digital skills to prepare them for the evolving jobs in the future. 

‘Now it is up to education institutions to ensure they are teaching and preparing the next generation for the jobs of the future and not solely for the jobs of today.’ 

Photo by Ahmad Gunnaivi