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The UK care industry is in crisis. We often hear about funding shortages, staff shortages, and concerns over care quality. But one aspect that rarely gets the attention it deserves is pay. The people responsible for looking after our most vulnerable citizens—care workers and care managers—are underpaid and undervalued. This issue isn’t unique to the UK, but when we compare salaries in other countries and even in different UK industries, the disparities become glaring. If we truly care about improving the sector, we need to start talking about fair pay.
In the UK, care workers are often paid just above minimum wage, despite carrying out some of the most essential roles in society. Meanwhile, in other countries such as Germany, the US, and Australia, care professionals receive significantly higher pay and better working conditions. This discrepancy raises an important question: why does the UK undervalue its care workforce?
The consequences of low wages in the sector are severe. High staff turnover, poor morale, and difficulties in attracting new talent have created a workforce crisis. Care workers often struggle to afford basic necessities, with many forced to leave the profession for better-paying, lower-stress jobs. If we want to fix the social care system, we must address its biggest flaw: pay.
Care workers in the UK earn some of the lowest wages among developed nations. According to Skills for Care, the average hourly wage for a care worker in England (2021) is £9.50–£10.50. When compared to wages in other countries, the disparity is clear:
In the UK, the pay structure has remained stagnant, failing to keep pace with inflation or reflect the real demands of the job. According to the Unfair to Care report by Community Integrated Care, care workers in the UK are paid 39% less than their NHS equivalents performing similar roles.
A support worker in the NHS starts at £21,730, while their counterpart in social care averages £16,500. The impact of these low wages is significant. 82% of care workers surveyed said they had considered leaving the sector in the last year, citing low pay as a key factor. Many are leaving for retail or hospitality jobs, which offer similar or better pay without the emotional and physical strain of care work.
Care home managers, responsible for overseeing staff, ensuring compliance, and maintaining care standards, are also paid significantly less than their counterparts in other countries:
The UK care sector places enormous responsibilities on managers, including budgeting, staffing, safeguarding, and meeting stringent Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations. Yet, despite these critical responsibilities, care managers in the UK earn significantly less than professionals in similar fields.
The effect of low pay in managerial roles is clear. Research from Community Care found that care home managers were more likely to leave their jobs due to management stress and poor pay than frontline care workers. This creates instability, leaving care homes struggling to maintain quality standards.
A surprising but relevant comparison is between care home managers and train or bus drivers. In the UK:
While train and bus drivers perform essential jobs, they operate in structured environments with fixed hours and strong union support. In contrast, care home managers work long, unpredictable hours, often dealing with life-and-death situations, safeguarding issues, and complex care needs.
It begs the question: why does society place such a premium on transport roles while neglecting social care? If care home managers were compensated fairly for the level of responsibility they bear, fewer would leave the profession, and overall care quality would improve.
The link between pay and care quality is well-documented. A study published in The Gerontologist (2023) found that a 10% increase in care worker wages leads to a 7.1% improvement in care home quality ratings.
Low wages lead to:
Higher wages would lead to greater job stability, attracting better-qualified professionals to the sector.
How can we improve care sector pay?
Other countries have successfully restructured their care sectors. In Germany, care staff pay is regulated through collective bargaining agreements, ensuring stable wages. Australia provides higher weekend and night shift pay, acknowledging the demanding nature of care work.
The UK’s care industry is in crisis, and pay is at the heart of the problem. Care workers and managers are underpaid compared to their international peers and even domestic workers in less demanding sectors. If we want to attract and retain skilled professionals, fair pay must become a priority.
There are clear solutions, but action is needed. With an ageing population and increasing care demands, we must decide whether to properly fund care or let the system collapse. Because if we truly care about care, we need to start paying for it. Which government will take responsibility for this? And when? Do we have time to wait? What do you think?
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