Scottish Care Nursing Workforce Report 2025 warns of “critical strain” on sector
Scottish Care will publish its Nursing Workforce Report 2025 on Wednesday 3 September, which reveals that Scotland’s independent social care nursing workforce is under immense pressure.
The survey – the first since 2021 – captures the experiences of 48 organisations, employing more than 780 nurses across 234 care home services. It shows:
- Persistent recruitment challenges – 75% of providers report difficulties filling nurse vacancies.
- Fragile retention – more than half of organisations indicated that nurses who had left moved to the NHS, with nearly 70% indicating that on average, nurses exit within their first five years with an organisation.
- Rising stress and burnout – 37% report increased stress levels, and sickness absence is on the rise.
- Systemic barriers – pay disparity with the NHS, lack of tailored professional development, and restrictive immigration policies are all undermining workforce stability.
The report highlights that without urgent action, these issues will continue to impact continuity of care, hospital discharges, and the wider health and social care system.
Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO of Scottish Care, said:
“This report shines a stark light on the reality facing social care nurses across Scotland. For too long, they have been undervalued, underpaid, and unsupported despite the skilled, complex and essential care they deliver every single day. Unless we address pay inequality with the NHS, invest in proper training and career development, and create fair pathways for international recruitment, we risk losing an irreplaceable workforce. The future sustainability of our health and social care system depends on a strong and respected nursing profession in care homes. We cannot afford to ignore this crisis any longer.”
Scottish Care is calling for:
- Pay parity with NHS roles to stem attrition.
- Funded and accessible training/CPD designed specifically for social care.
- Targeted and accessible entry routes for new and returning nurses, including improved Return to Practice pathways.
- A fairer immigration system that supports international recruits.
- Investment to reduce agency reliance and ensure safe staffing levels.
