Scotland’s Social Service Workforce Reached Record High in 2025

Scotland’s social service workforce reached its highest recorded level in 2025, with 215,890 people working across the sector.

That’s according to a new Official Statistics report published by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) today. The Scottish Social Service Sector: Report on 2025 Workforce Data provides a comprehensive picture of the paid social service workforce in Scotland at the end of 2025.

Workforce growth

The workforce increased by around 1,140 staff, or 0.5%, from 214,750 in 2024 to 215,890 in 2025. Over the longer term, the workforce has grown by 7.6% since 2016.

Housing support and care at home remains the largest sub-sector, employing 77,080 staff, around 36% of the total workforce. Care homes for adults and day care of children also remain among the largest areas of the workforce, with the three sub-sectors together accounting for around 80% of people working in social services.

Changes across the sector

The report shows the private sector continues to employ the largest share of the workforce, rising to 42% in 2025. Privately run housing support and care at home services saw the largest increase of any sub-sector with 1,850 more staff than in 2024.

The care homes for adults workforce grew for the second consecutive year, increasing to 53,120 in 2025. The number of childminders continued to fall, with 2,820 active childminders recorded in December 2025.

The report

SSSC Chief Executive, Maree Allison said: ‘Our 2025 workforce data report shows the continued scale and importance of Scotland’s social service workforce, with more people working in the sector than ever before.

‘These figures show the vital economic and social contribution of people working in social work, social care and children and young people services across Scotland. With the workforce continuing to grow, social services offer a wide range of roles and career opportunities for people with the right values who want to make a difference.’

Key points from the 2025 workforce data report

• The Scottish social service workforce reached its highest level yet in 2025, at 215,890.
• The workforce increased by around 1,140 staff, or 0.5%, from 2024.
• Privately run housing support and care at home services increased more than any other sub-sector in 2025, rising by 1,850 staff.
• The care homes for adults workforce grew for the second consecutive year, increasing to 53,120.
• The private sector employed the largest share of the workforce, rising to 42% in 2025.
• The number of active childminders continued to fall, down to 2,820 in December 2025.
• The total number of direct care staff increased by 16.5% since 2016, due to growth in two of the largest sub-sectors: housing support/care at home and day care of children.
• In 2025, 83% of the sector were employed on permanent contracts and three percent have a no guaranteed hours (NGH) contract.
• Zero-hours contracts (bank and casual/relief) accounted for approximately 11% of all workforce contracts in 2016, 2024 and 2025.