Many unpaid carers balancing work and care are at breaking point, with nearly half (47%) of those in employment thinking about cutting their hours or leaving their job completely - a decision which could affect their financial security and future circumstances.

A new report by Carers UK, supported by Standard Life, shows that while carers want to stay in work, a combination of limited support from employers and services, an increase in caring responsibilities and declining personal health is leaving some feeling as though they have no choice but to give up work to care.

74% of carers in employment told Carers UK that being in work has a positive impact on their health and wellbeing, with carers describing work as respite or ‘me-time’ away from their caring role and mentioning that it can help to boost confidence, provide structure and improve social connections.

Working age carers not in employment were more likely to report poor or very poor mental health than those in work (46% compared with 35%) and were more likely to be struggling financially (36% compared with 19%).

Amongst those who had already left work, the biggest factor that could have prevented this was better access to social care support. Carers also experienced a lack of coordinated support from the NHS increasing stress levels and resulting in them taking on greater levels of caring responsibilities themselves.

For carers who were no longer in employment, 35% of these said more affordable, accessible or reliable social care services would have helped to stay in work. Previous figures from Carers UK also found that 62% of current and former carers felt they had little choice but to care as other care options were not available.

Carers UK’s new research found that a supportive workplace is crucial to prevent burnout. A high proportion of carers (71%) who had given up work to care said they felt stressed about their caring responsibilities at work, and 77% went to work even when they were unwell.

48% of carers who had given up work to care said they did not feel comfortable speaking to their line manager about the challenges they faced in combining work and care whilst 43% said their employer did not have policies in place to support carers.

The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 entitles employees to 5 days of unpaid leave to care for someone with long-term health needs per year, but some carers said they could not afford to take this. 60% said that paid Carer’s Leave would make them feel less stressed, and 45% said they would be more likely to remain in paid employment.

The government is currently reviewing employment rights for carers, including the implementation of the Carer’s Leave Act. Carers UK is calling for the government to use this opportunity to introduce five days of statutory paid Carer’s Leave before the end of this Parliament.

Too many carers are being stretched to the limit trying to balance work and care. Given the impact of leaving work, and the fact that more of us will take on caring roles in the years ahead, supporting carers to stay in employment should be a priority for the government and society. This also carries wider economic implications, with the cost of carers leaving paid work estimated at £37 billion a year.

These new figures show a critical link between social care support and carers’ ability to take on paid work. Social care should be recognised as a key requirement for carers to be able to work, just as childcare has been crucial in supporting parents - particularly women – to participate in the labour market. Alongside this, supportive workplace practices such as flexible working and carer-friendly policies are essential in helping carers balance work and caring responsibilities.

Claire Hawkins, Director of Corporate Affairs and Brand for Standard Life and executive sponsor of the company's carers network said:

“Without the right support in place, too many carers reach a point where reducing their hours or leaving employment altogether feels unavoidable, which can have a lasting detrimental impact on their pension adequacy and their income in retirement. Time out of the workforce directly reduces the ability to build up pension savings, increasing the risk that carers face poorer financial outcomes later in life.

“Supporting carers makes strong business sense. Flexible working and paid carers’ leave help employers retain experienced and valued staff, reduce absence and turnover, and support productivity as caring responsibilities become more common across the workforce.

"At Standard Life, we provide 10 days of paid carers’ leave alongside flexible working and other benefits designed to enable colleagues to work flexibly. We recognise that providing practical support enables people to remain in work rather than stepping away entirely.”