The Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) 2023-2024 published by Skills for Care | BASW England Statement

In conjunction with the new Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England, developed by Skills for Care in collaboration with the sector, the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) has also been published. 

This data set covers the adult social care workforce in England (excluding regulated professions) and provides details about the size and structure of the sector and workforce for 2023-24.

Key points from the data include:

- The workforce grew for the second consecutive year to 1.71 million filled posts, an increase of 4.2%, or 77,000 posts.

- The number of vacant posts on any given day fell by 22,000 to 131,000, representing a vacancy rate of 8.3%, which is still approximately three times that of the wider economy.

- International recruitment, rather than domestic, was the main driver of the increase in filled posts and the reduction in vacancies. There were 105,000 international recruits, an increase of 25,000 from the previous year, while the number of posts filled by individuals with British nationality has fallen by 70,000 over the past two years.

Although these figures indicate some positive developments, critical challenges remain. Changes to the immigration system introduced by the previous government in March 2024, particularly concerning dependents, are likely to have a significant impact on the current and future care workforce. The data also shows that in 2023-2024, 26% of care workers employed in the independent sector left their roles. Thus, the recruitment and retention crisis in adult social care remains a pressing issue for the sector and the new government.

While this data does not cover regulated professions, such as social work, it underscores the importance of long-term strategic planning for recruitment and retention across the sector.

Read BASW England’s response to the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England