NI Health and Social Care Workforce Census March 2025
Date published:
The Department of Health today released details of the NI Health and Social Care (HSC) Workforce Census as at 31 March 2025.
This statistical publication presents an analysis of staff in post by occupational family, organisation, gender, working pattern and age. Summary information on staff turnover is also included.
The publication covers the majority of HSC hospital, community and social services workforce (75,028 staff in post or 66,865.1 whole-time equivalent [WTE]). Bank/sessional staff are excluded, as are members of staff on career breaks, Chairpersons/Members of Boards and those recorded with less than 0.03 WTE. Domiciliary care staff have also been excluded, as their recorded whole-time equivalent currently does not reflect their contribution to the service.
Key Points
- The HSC workforce grew by 22% (11,944.8 WTE) between 2016 and 2025.
- The largest employer in the HSC was the Belfast Trust with 21,191 (19,038.9 WTE) staff or 28% of all HSC staff.
- The largest Occupational Family was Nursing & Midwifery with 24,887 (22,269.3 WTE) staff or 33% of all HSC staff.
- The Medical & Dental workforce stood at 5,715 (5,217.9 WTE), with consultants accounting for 40% (2,214 staff or 2,070.7 WTE) of WTE in this Staff Group.
- Over two thirds (34%, 22,402.2 WTE) of WTE HSC staff were employed at Agenda for Change Bands 1 to 4.
- Over three quarters (78% or 58,354 headcount) of HSC employees were female.
Notes to editors:
- The publication is available on the Departmental website at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/staff-numbers
- The information was collected from the Human Resources, Payroll, Travel and Subsistence database which is maintained by the various HSC organisations. The analyses presented in the publication exclude bank staff (who fill staffing shortfalls to maintain service delivery) and domiciliary care staff. These staff were excluded because, due to the variable nature of their work, their recorded whole-time equivalent currently does not reflect their contribution to the service. Figures also exclude staff on career breaks, non-Trust staff and Chairpersons/Members of Boards. Note this publication does not report on General Practitioners and General Dental Practitioners as they are independent contractors rather than employees of HSC organisations.
- WTE (Whole Time equivalent) is calculated by aggregating the total number of hours staff in a particular grade are contracted to work and dividing by the standard hours for that grade. In this way, part-time staff are converted into an equivalent number of 'whole-time' staff.
- Headcount is number of individuals working in active posts. This counts individuals only once, regardless of how many posts they hold. Where information is broken down by various categories, individuals will be counted once in each category they hold an active post.
- Regional Services includes the following organisations: Business Services Organisation, Public Health Agency, Patient Client Council, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service HSC Trust, Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service, Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Practice & Education Council, Northern Ireland Social Care Council, Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority and Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency.
- Further information on the NI HSC Workforce is available from: Workforce Section, Project Support Analysis Branch, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Annexe 2, Castle BuildingsStormont, BT4 3SQ Tel: 028 90 522493 Email: workforce.statistics@health-ni.gov.uk Internet: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/dhssps-statistics-and-research/workforce-statistics
- For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
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