Over 1,500 UK workers quit daily to care for relatives, charity warns

Carers UK reports that more than 1,500 UK employees resign each day to provide unpaid care, a steep rise from roughly 600 daily quits in 2019. Their July survey of 4,000 adults found 20% of workers now balance a job with caring duties, up from 15% before the pandemic, and 6% have left work completely to care, compared with 5% in 2019. The charity estimates 11 million unpaid carers, with 3.33 million exiting the labour market, costing the economy about £37 billion a year.

Although a right to a week of unpaid leave began in April 2024, the government is consulting on paid carer leave and a “right to return” similar to maternity provisions. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has spoken about the personal toll of caring, and Carers UK policy director Emily Holzhausen both stress the need for stronger employment protections. The Department for Business and Trade says new measures could enable many carers to re-enter work with greater flexibility and financial security.