There are around 1.6 million care workers across the UK representing 5% of the UK workforce.
Over 1.6 million people work in the care sector in the UK with an estimated 250,000 volunteers supporting them.
By 2026 it is estimated that the number of people over 85 in the UK will rise by two-thirds – compared to a 10% growth in the overall population.
- Changing Lives: Report of 21st Century Social Work Review, Scottish Executive 2006
On average, 63% of the UK care workforce is employed full-time
- Changing Lives: Report of 21st Century Social Work Review, Scottish Executive 2006
61% of the UK care workforce is over 40.
- Changing Lives: Report of 21st Century Social Work Review, Scottish Executive 2006
The number of people with a cognitive impairment, such as dementia, is likely to rise to around 60% by 2025.
By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a 53% rise in the number of older people who need to use UK social care services.
- Changing Lives: Report of 21st Century Social Work Review, Scottish Executive 2006
The Honours Degree in Social Work is the recognized qualification of all Social Workers throughout the UK.
Social work and optometry are the only two professions in the UK that require their students to be registered as well as qualified staff.
The UK voluntary sector includes 140,000 charities and employs around 600,000 people.
It is illegal to call yourself a Social Worker without being registered with the appropriate regulatory body.
There are currently 770,000 disabled children in the UK.
In the UK 1 in 25 of the national working population works in the social care sector
In Britain, there are around six million unpaid carers saving the country £57 billion a year.
Over 300,000 children under eight in the UK are looked after by a childminder
