Care homes in the UK are under immense pressure on their workforce. As of March 2024, 8.3% (around 131,000 jobs) of adult social care roles in England alone were vacant. That's nearly three times the national average of 2.8% across all sectors. According to data from Care England, turnover remains a critical challenge too, with nearly 31% of care workers in non-nursing homes leaving their roles in 2023/24.
The constant churn of staff across the sector increases recruitment costs, affects continuity of care, and places additional pressure on already stretched teams. To make matters worse, the age profile of the existing workforce presents a looming risk:
The workforce gap is widening at the same time international recruitment is falling. Home Office data shows an 81% drop in overseas care worker visas in early 2025 compared to the previous year. With an ageing workforce and fewer overseas hires, care homes must now rely on domestic talent, especially Millennials and Gen Z, who already make up over 45% of the UK workforce (ONS).
Attracting and retaining this new generation is essential to future-proofing your care home workforce. But Gen Z and Millennials bring different expectations. They’ve grown up with mobile apps, fast feedback, and flexibility. They want:
Care homes that rely on paper-based rotas, fragmented HR systems, or clunky onboarding processes risk being left behind. To compete, providers must create a modern employee experience powered by connected, mobile-first technology. This is where platforms like HR Duo come in for healthcare providers.
Built specifically for shift-based, deskless teams in health and social care, HR Duo gives care homes the tools to:
Millennials (specifically those born 1988–1996) now represent a growing portion of care sector leadership, or are fast approaching those roles. As the generation most likely to lead operations, manage teams, and shape care culture over the next decade, their expectations should not be overlooked.
Millennial leaders are motivated by more than job titles or salaries. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Survey, 77% of UK millennials say work-life balance and wellbeing support are top priorities in choosing where to work or stay. They expect flexibility, autonomy, and the ability to make a positive impact, both for their team and the people in their care.
What this generation wants from the care workplace:
HR Duo meets these expectations with built-in tools for:
For care homes, empowering Millennial leaders with the right digital systems is a retention strategy and a leadership development strategy.
Gen Z (born 1997–2012) are entering the care workforce in growing numbers. By 2030, they’ll make up the majority of the frontline, from care assistants to key support workers. And they’re bringing a different set of expectations shaped by growing up in a digital, on-demand world.
According to Prospects’ Early Careers Survey, Gen Z values flexibility, mental health support, and purpose-led work more than any generation before them. Their career decisions are shaped by how much autonomy, support, and tech-enabled simplicity they experience from day one.
What Gen Z care workers are looking for:
With HR Duo, care homes can deliver:
To retain Gen Z workers, care homes must move beyond reactive recruitment and invest in proactive experience design, built on the digital habits and wellbeing priorities that define this generation.
Book a free demo and discover how HR Duo helps care homes recruit, retain, and empower the next generation of carers.