The latest UK migration statistics reveal a significant reduction in grants of health and social care visas. In the year ending June 2024, 89,095 Health and Care Worker visas were granted to main applicants, a 26% decrease compared to the previous year.
This decline was particularly pronounced in the most recent quarter (April to June 2024), which saw an 81% drop compared to the same period in 2023.
These statistics reflect changes to Home Office and UKVI rules brought in this year by the previous government to curb migration, which the current government has not changed.
The Homecare Association has previously warned that a decrease in international care workers could mean a risk of a further decline in homecare capacity in the UK.
The vacancy rate in homecare is 11.5%, which is four times higher than the average for the wider labour market. Skills for Care estimates we need an extra 540,000 care workers by 2040. Lack of homecare services increases utilisation of more costly health services. Recruitment within the UK is tough, and the number of British nationals in the workforce has decreased by 70,000 over the last two years. International recruitment has helped to address short-term workforce shortages but has now almost stopped because of changes in immigration rules. Meeting demand for homecare will be hard unless we implement a workforce plan. This must include fair pay for care workers and a viable immigration system for the care sector.
