Juggling work and unpaid care: a growing issue

This research by Carers UK and YouGov reveals that 2.6 million people have quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill, with nearly half a million (468,000) leaving their job in the past two years alone - more than 600 people a day. This is a 12 per cent increase since Carers UK and YouGov polled the public in 2013.

The findings also show that more people have caring responsibilities than previously thought, with almost 5 million workers now juggling their paid job with caring – a dramatic rise compared with the Census 2011 figures of 3 million.

The research emphasises the need for UK employers to support the rapidly increasing number of staff with caring responsibilities to stay in the workforce.