In August 2021, the UK’s development agency for care workers reported that the health and care industry was facing a worker shortage of 105,000. With the rise in the ageing population in the country, health and care jobs continue to be in high demand.

But, the reality is that there aren’t enough social care workers in the local labour market to meet these skill demands, which is a direct result of low wages in the industry. 

In fact, health and care occupations are amongst the lowest paying roles, which is reflected in the fact that three-quarters of the workforce is earning below the real living wage.

Another report also found that the UK would need an additional 627,000 social care workers by 2030/2031. What all these figures mean is that health and care businesses in the UK must take immediate measures to find, attract, and retain skilled health and care workers.

One way businesses in the UK are doing this is by turning to the international labour market. With an abundance of health and care workers available at all skill levels, the international market can be a lifesaver—literally.

If you’re looking to sponsor talent, you can bolster your team by sponsoring skilled workers through the Health and Care Worker visa. Familiarising yourself with the process of sponsoring workers through this route can make the experience straightforward for you and your employees.

So, here’s everything you need to know about sponsoring health and care workers in the UK.