Scotland’s Care Crisis
This report examines social care and early learning and childcare (ELC) in Scotland. It looks at recruitment and retention issues in these female-dominated, undervalued sectors and considers the implications of current trends, forecasts and policy commitments. It concludes that a perfect storm of existing staffing issues, an ageing population, Scottish Government policy commitments, Brexit, automation, and historic and ongoing equal pay discrimination is likely to lead to further staffing issues and increasing industrial unrest. The report recommends that alongside increased investment, sectoral bargaining structures are put in place to ensure that future changes are brought about in partnership with workers, employers and the Scottish Government.