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: