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SSSC Register report (image)

31 Oct 2024

Workforce data Social service workforce

Second snapshot report into care workforce

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) has published its second Register snapshot report which gives a unique insight into the social work, social care and children and young people workforce.

This second report on our Register highlights the data we hold about the registered workforce in our role as regulator.

The report, which examines data from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, shows there were 176,781 people on the SSSC Register in March this year, which is an increase of 8,549 or 5.1% on April 2023.

The registered workforce represents 83% of the total social service workforce of more than 212,000 in Scotland. It’s important to understand more about this workforce to help identify trends, opportunities and challenges for workforce planning, which our data can also influence and support.

Our data

SSSC Chief Executive, Maree Allison said: ‘I’m pleased to publish this second Register snapshot report, sharing the unique data we hold.

‘The data provides valuable information for workforce planning and policy makers. Over time our snapshot reports will build a picture of the registered workforce to help them make decisions on how to provide high quality care in the face of changing demand due to factors including an ageing population, more people receiving care at home and increased early learning and childcare provision.

‘All parts of the Register grew from 2023 to 2024 apart from social work students, which fell for the second year in a row, which is a trend that we’ll continue to monitor.

‘Read alongside our annual workforce data reports, our snapshot reports help us understand Scotland’s workforce better so we can support a thriving social work, social care and children and young people workforce.’

Watch our video

You can hear more about the report from SSSC Acting Head of Registration, Jenni Tait, in our video.

The registered workforce

The registered workforce covers social work, social care and children and young people services. During 2023/24 most parts of the Register increased, except for social work students which had a small decrease, as shown below.

  • Our Register grew by 5.1% from 168,232 to 176,781 between April 2023 and March 2024. +8,549 (+5.1%)
  • The number of people on our Register working in residential childcare services increased from 8,153 in 2023 to 8,649 in 2024. +496 (+6.1%)
  • The number of people working in day care of children services on our Register grew from 44,290 in 2023 to 46,789 in 2024. +2,499 (+5.6%)
  • The number of people on our Register working in care home services for adults grew from 42,673 in 2023 to 46,210 in 2024. +3,537 (+8.2%)
  • The number of people on our Register working in care at home services increased from 64,441 in 2023 to 69,197 in 2024. +4,756 (+7.3%)
  • The number of social work students on the Register fell from 1,998 in 2023 to 1,944 in 2024. -54 (-2.7%)
  • The number of registered social workers increased from 10,826 in 2023 to 10,914 in 2024. +88 (+0.8%)
  • The number of people working in residential school care accommodation increased from 412 in 2023 to 459 in 2024. +47 (+11.4%)
Read the full report The Scottish Social Services Council Register: 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024.
Watch our video

You can hear more about the report and how our data is helping to build a picture of the registered workforce from SSSC Senior Intelligence Analyst, Jenny Giblin, in our video.

Contact information

Lorraine Wakefield
Communications Manager
Scottish Social Services Council
media@sssc.uk.com