Report

Care work in the UK

This report from UK think tank the Policy Institute explores public attitudes and misperceptions about care work in the UK.

The public significantly underestimate the likelihood of becoming an unpaid carer at some point in their lives, guessing 38% of people in the UK ever will – far below the reality of 65%, according to a new study. It finds men underestimate the most, guessing 27% of people will ever become unpaid carers, whereas women are notably more accurate, guessing 50%. At the same time, the public are very clear on how essential this care is: three in four (73%) believe the health and social care system would collapse without unpaid carers – most just don’t expect to be among those propping it up.