Approximately 1,500 Britons are leaving their jobs daily to become unpaid carers, balancing growing care needs with reduced access to state-funded social care services. Research indicates that over a million people have left the workplace in the past two years to care for ageing, ill, or disabled relatives.
Carers UK, which published the report, describes unpaid caring as a "widespread social and economic reality" for UK households. One in five employees, equivalent to 6.7 million people, reportedly face career and financial sacrifices while juggling paid work and care responsibilities.
The report estimates that the doubling in the number of people quitting paid work to care over the past seven years comes at an annual economic cost of £37 billion to the UK. Emily Holzhausen, policy director at Carers UK, stated these figures represent individuals making difficult decisions about their careers and financial security.
Carers UK has called on the government to strengthen employment rights for unpaid carers, including a statutory entitlement to 10 days' annual paid carer's leave. They also urged Louise Casey's independent review of adult social care to recommend policy changes that would help carers combine work and unpaid care.
A government spokesperson acknowledged the contribution of unpaid carers and stated that they are exploring how best to support them through a review of employment rights.