Page 50 - Unfair To Care 2024 - Who Cares Wins

SIN 7. UNTAPPED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
UNFAIR LOW PAY UNDERMINES THE NATION’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UNNECESSARILY INCREASES IMMIGRATION, AND WORSENS REGIONAL INEQUALITIES.
CARERS UK ESTIMATE THAT THE BRITISH WORKFORCE LOSES AROUND 600 PEOPLE OF WORKING AGE EVERY DAY DUE TO THEM BEING FORCED TO GIVE UP WORK TO SUPPORT A LOVED
ONE, WHO IS UNABLE TO ACCESS SOCIAL CARE.
SECTION 6: THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Economic value of care: The 2023 Future Social Care Coalition report ‘Carenomics’52 describes in detail the contribution that social care makes to the UK economy, with a Gross Value Added (GVA) of £51.5 billion of economic activity in England alone, when including indirect and induced effects. This surpasses other major sectors of the economy, such as electricity and power.
Skills for Care say that the care sector employed 1.52 million people in England in 2022/23, plus 135,000 people in Scotland, making it a larger employer than the NHS; and the Carenomics report estimates that for every £1 invested in social care, £1.75 is generated in the wider economy.
Regional inequalities: In 2022, the Health and Social Care Select Committee53 described evidence of regional and geographic inequality in the recruitment and retention of care and support staff. They identified ‘high-price’ areas such as parts of the south-east, seaside towns, and rural and coastal locations where people cannot afford to live within a reasonable distance of the care provider’s services. Low
pay that leads to staff shortages exacerbates these regional and geographical economic inequalities.
Economic impact of unpaid carers: A significant number of individuals, especially women, have left the workforce, or face challenges in employment, due to increasing unpaid caring responsibilities. Many dedicate caring hours comparable to – and greater than – full-time jobs. The lack of capacity within social care directly contributes to this.
A stable social care sector, with capacity to provide what society needs to support the wellbeing of unpaid carers, ensures that carers can, if they wish, remain
in work for longer. This reduces dependence upon benefits, promotes financial independence, and reduces the burden on the welfare system. Social care supports national productivity in many ways.
The financial implications of losing economically active people from the workforce is significant. Especially
at a time when employment is high and the labour market is extremely competitive as a result. Carers UK54 estimate that the British workforce loses around 600 people of working age every day due to them being forced to give up work to support
a loved one, who is unable to access social care.
50
52. ‘Carenomics: Unlocking the economic power of social care’, Future Social Care Coalition, October 2023
53. ‘Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care’, Health and Social Care Select Committee, July 2022
54. ‘Research: More than 600 people quit work to look after older and disabled relatives every day’, Carers UK, February 2019