More must be done to encourage young men to consider a career in the care sector, a report has said.
At present just 4.2% of working men are employed in health or social care compared to 15.5% of women, according to the report by the International Longevity Centre UK and care charity Anchor.
More than four in five care workers are female. The organisations said that more must be done to change the public perception of care roles.
Their report also suggests that there is a workforce time-bomb in the care industry fuelled by the rising tide of elderly people who are going to need support.
It is expected that one million new care roles will be needed by 2025 to meet rising demand and currently unmet need. However, the number of people of working age is expected to rise by just 2.5 million in this time frame, the report states.
Anchor, which is opening 1,000 new care positions at its retirement homes and retirement villages over the next three years, said the care sector needs a more diverse workforce.
The care bodys chief executive Jane Ashcroft said: We must address this workforce time-bomb.
The care sector needs to attract a wider range of staff: young and old, and we need more men to consider care as a potential career – particularly as men are living longer. Our workforce should reflect the diversity of our customers.
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