The social care sector currently has around 130,000 unfilled vacancies, with a projected need for 540,000 new care workers by 2040 due to an ageing population. The government has closed a special visa route for international care workers, which complicates recruitment efforts in an already strained industry. This decision, justified by concerns over visa abuse, could have been better addressed through regulation rather than a complete ban. The move threatens to deepen the crisis in an essential yet undervalued sector, already struggling with rising costs and staffing shortages.
The social care sector faces 130,000 vacancies, requiring 540,000 new care workers by 2040 due to an ageing population and chronic undervaluation of workers.
Labour has ended a special visa route for overseas care workers, increasing their time on sponsorship visas from five to ten years, impacting recruitment severely.
The decision to restrict hiring from abroad has been justified by citing evidence of visa abuse, yet this could be tackled through more effective regulation.
The closure of this visa route amidst rising costs and understaffing undermines support for a social care sector already in crisis, threatening its sustainability.
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