Commenting on new data published by Skills for Care today (Thursday), which shows that there are currently 131,000 vacancies in the social care sector – a vacancy rate of 8.3%, which is around three times that of the wider economy, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:   

“The Tories have run our social care services into the ground.  

“Demand for care is increasing all the time. But 14 years of chronic underinvestment means we can’t meet that demand.  

“The sector has sky high vacancies and is rife with exploitative employers, poverty pay and unsafe working conditions.  

“The dedicated and skilled care workforce deserves much better, and we welcome this support for a care workforce strategy.  

“Labour’s Employment Bill announced in the King’s Speech yesterday has the potential to be transformative for social care.  

“It will pave the way towards a groundbreaking sector-wide Fair Pay Agreement, which would make sure our diligent care workers finally get the recognition, pay and conditions they deserve – and lay the foundations for a National Care Service in the future.”