The charity workforce in post-Brexit Britain: Immigration and skills policy for the third sector

Article

The charity sector is far from immune from the effects of Brexit. As the UK leaves the EU and imposes restrictions on the free movement of people, parts of the charity sector – particularly social work and residential care – risk facing a ‘perfect storm’ of high employee churn, skills shortages, low pay, and increasing labour demand.

The number of EU nationals in the UK charity sector’s workforce has grown substantially over the past two decades, more than doubling from 14,000 to 31,000 since 2000. They are largely concentrated in sectors such as social work, residential care, education and membership organisations, and tend to be young and highly qualified. While EU nationals currently make up a small proportion of the total charity workforce – around 4 per cent – in some key parts of the sector, such as social care, there is to be expected growing labour demand in the coming years.


Related items

  1. Change you can board: Delivering better, greener buses

    The bus services bill is an opportunity to ensure reform really means thriving, green 21st century local bus networks in England.

  2. Harry Quilter-Pinner on BBC Radio 4 Today discussing political donations

  3. A sign for a polling station next to a block of flats

    Modernising elections: How to get voters back

    Elections are the defining feature of modern democracy. They are the process by which we express a desired future en masse. It is the mass dimension that matters most; it is the mass dimension that is receding.