Workforce retention risks remain high, but four in ten people working in social care plan to stay in the sector until retirement.
These are some of the findings revealed in our 2026 Have Your Say survey report.
Our annual Have Your Say survey was carried out between January and March 2026. Over 30 per cent more people shared their experience of working in social care this year than in 2025. In total, 7,565 social care workers from a range of roles responded to the survey – nearly 2,000 more than last year.
The key findings
As in previous years, most people who work in social care do it because they want to make a difference to people’s lives. This was closely followed by respondents who said they felt it would be a role they would love or enjoy.
Morale continues to be high (67 per cent). Many respondents described their relationships with colleagues as a positive aspect of their work, and reported feeling valued in supportive teams with a shared sense of purpose.
Despite most choosing to work in social care to help others, workforce retention continues to be a risk. A quarter of respondents said they were considering leaving the sector, and some (16 per cent) expect to leave in less than 12 months.
But, around four in ten workers (39 per cent) were planning to remain in the sector until retirement. And another 11 per cent could see themselves staying for more than 10 years.
Progression ambitions within the workforce were positive. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents wanted a leadership role in the future, and just over half believed it would be possible for them to become a leader (51%).
Terms and conditions continued to be a concern for people working in social care, with 57 per cent saying they were satisfied with their terms and conditions. Fewer people told us that they received benefits, such as employer pension contributions (44 per cent compared to 64 per cent in 2025) and 28 days or more paid holiday leave (59 per cent compared to 76 per cent) than last year.
Pay is still a concern. Twenty-four per cent said they were finding it difficult to manage financially, and over half (52 per cent) said they found it more difficult to manage financially than last year.
Sarah McCarty, our Chief Executive, said:
“I’d like to say ‘diolch yn fawr' to everyone who took the time to complete our 2026 Have Your Say survey. The views that you share in our annual workforce survey gives us valuable insights into what it’s like to work in social care in Wales today.
“The results of this survey once again demonstrate the commitment of the social care workforce to making a difference to people’s lives. And it’s great to see that the majority of people still feel supported and valued by their colleagues and managers.
“But, you’ve also told us that challenges are still there. To try and help address some of the concerns raised in our survey, we’ve arranged a number of sessions on key topics to support you and your teams. Sessions include financial well-being, celebrating staff, and supporting your teams around discrimination and harassment. You can find more information on our website.
“We’ll use the findings of the survey to guide the support and services we offer, as well as influencing the work of partner organisations to make sure the voice of the workforce is heard.”
Find out more
Join us and researchers from Cardiff University on 15 October to hear about the key findings from our 2026 Have Your Say survey. Register your interest to attend the event, here: Digwyddiad Canfyddiadau Arolwg 2026 Dweud Eich Dweud / Have Your Say Survey Findings Event 2026
Our events
Our employer support and culture and leadership teams have also arranged sessions to help address some of the concerns and challenges raised in the Have Your Say surveys.
- 16 November: Financial well-being: support and advice for people working in social care
- 4 December: Making a difference: Celebrate it, capture it, share it.
- 11 January, 2027: Speak up. Listen up. Follow up.
Have Your Say 2026 survey report
Read the survey
To read the full 2026 Have Your Say survey report, as well as summary findings from different workforce groups, visit our Insight Collective website:
This year’s survey was carried out on our behalf by researchers at Cardiff University, Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE), and the Social Science Research Park (SPARK), and supported by Care Forum Wales.