Carers and work FAQ

How many working carers are there?  

• The vast majority of carers (80%) are of working age.
• It's thought as many as 3 million carers already combine work and care.
• Carers make up over 12% of the total UK workforce, 1 in every 8 employees.
• Every year, over 2 million people become carers, some overnight, some more gradually – so there is a new population of carers in the workforce every day.
• 3 in 5 people will become carers at some point in time.

Read more evidence about working carers from the 2001 census. more...

How does being a carer affect your job?

Put simply being a carer is like having a whole other job - on top of your regular job and on top of your other family commitments, hobbies or interests. Caring doesn't work nine till five, it is unpredictable and can be hard to fit around a paid job. Carers often feel they have no choice but to reduce their hours, change to less demanding careers  or even give up work altogether. The reasons they feel they have no choice?

• they can't get the replacement services they need
• they can't get the time off they need
• they can't get the flexibility they need

How does our ageing population affect this issue?  

 The problem is not only pressing now, but set to increase. Every year, over 2 million people become carers, some overnight, some more gradually – so there is a new population of carers in the workforce every day.  With demographic change the number of carers is set to grow from 6 million to 9 million in the next 30 years.   Future work predictions show that the economy will need an extra 2 million people in the next 20 years, only a quarter of whom will be school leavers.  Employers need to widen their recruitment pool at the same time that society will see an increase in the need for care.

What is the economic and business case of supporting carers in work

• In 2004 a TUC report  argued that in order to achieve full employment and economic growth the Government’s Spending Review should focus on getting into employment the 2 million people currently not in work but who want a job.  This includes half a million people with caring and family responsibilities.
• Future work predictions show that the economy will need an extra 2 million people in the next 20 years, only a quarter of whom will be school leavers.  Employers need to widen their recruitment pool at the same time that society will see an increase in the need for care.
• The number of carers is set to grow from 6 million to 9 million in the next 30 years.
• The peak age for caring is between 45 and 64 – when many employees will have gained valuable skills and be employed in senior positions.

Do carers want to return to work?

Recent research by Carers UK shows that 1 in 3 carers not currently working wanted to return to work if the right alternative care was available. However many are unable to due to the level of care they provide or their own ill health and disability.

What about those carers who can’t work?

This is a very important question. For some carers paid work is never going to be a viable option and the government must recognise this. The level of carer they provide is likely to be well in excess of 50 hours a week and the specialist skills and care they provide cannot be easily replaced. Carers UK also campaigns hard for these carers. No carer should ever be forced back to work or made to feel they are “unemployed”. Caring is a vital and valuable activity critical to our society and our economy and Carers UK believes carers should be recognised for their unique role and that the current level of benefits they receive is disgracefully low. We are campaigning to improve that.