The TUC is calling for a ‘comprehensive’ strategy for the care workforce in England as new analysis shows every region in England is struggling to recruit early years staff.
The union’s analysis, which is based upon data from Coram Family and Childcare’s Childcare survey 2023, shows:
- Nearly all (95 per cent) English councils who responded to Coram’s survey said that childcare providers in their area are having difficulty recruiting childcare staff with the right skills and experience to do the job. Eight in ten local authorities described it as ‘very difficult’.
- Recruitment of early years staff is most difficult in the East of England, the West Midlands and the North-East, where 100 per cent of councils said childcare providers find it ‘very difficult’ to recruit sufficient staff with the right skills and experience.
The union body has also published new research into the wages of early years and social care staff. The data is based upon the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2022 and the Labour Force Survey Quarter 1 2023.
