Where are all the jobs?

[Darkdarknightinthedarkdarkstaircase]

I currently work as a health care professional. I have been looking for a change of job. 5 years ago when I was looking for my current post, there were SO many posts to apply for.

I just went on the NHS jobs website and there ate zero AHP roles in my local area. I looked on the council website. Again, zero.

What the hell is happening?

I feel like I can't move house because kf the cost of it and the poor housing market, and now can't move jobs or progress because there is nothing available.

Is it the same everywhere? I thought we were crying out for healthcare professionals?

There is no funding. So yes, there is a shortage of AHPs as ever but a lot of trusts are on recruitment freezes because the government told them to cut costs. Expect more cut posts after junior doctor's salary increase because all of this is coming out of trust's local budgets.
I think the only area where it remains relatively easy to get AHP jobs is London.

It has been like this for ages, OP. AHP's, nurses, Dr's, healthcare sciences. All the registered roles are frozen and/or are being amalgamated rather than going out for recruitment. There aren't even many internal recruitments now. Plus issues around changes in skill-mix (rarely for the better) mean fewer opportunities for B5.

Were you looking at the same time of year last time? If you're looking at the wrong time in the budgeting and recruiting cycle then that will be a factor.

It doesn't make a difference, unfortunately. It used to but sadly it's been a problem for a couple of years now. The posts used to refresh in April with the new budgets but we haven't seen that for a couple of years. Last April was awful, no posts anywhere. Peaks and troughs are normal in healthcare recruitment but this is a really depressed patch.

I find it really worrying. Everything feels so hopeless

It is really worrying. Meanwhile, universities keep pumping out NQ HCP/AHP too and selling new students the dream of 'a job for life' but the reality of workforce planning is an absolute clusterfuck.

*Obviously there are alternatives in the private, charity and academic sectors, but there aren't enough roles to make up for the sheer number lost in the NHS/local gov.

My husband was in consulting and got made redundant almost two years ago now. Still hasn't found another job despite searching the jobs board every single day. All the news reports say 2026 is going to be even worse for job losses than 2025 or 2024 even.

Brexit is what is happening.
We warned about it. They called us scared mongerers.
Now we suffer the consequences.
UK is fucked.

And crazily you can see that despite that, it looks like the same approach is still popular with a large sector of the population and are happy to lead us farther towards misery, poverty, inequality and unemployment at the next election. It beggars belief.

I’ve been looking for an NMP job but there are none! Considering there’s a shortage (apparently) of prescribers, you’d think there would be an abundance of them!

Agree. I am gobsmacked that Reform/Brexit supporters have not, or will not, accept the damage that has been caused to their lives by voting to leave the EU or not accepting any compromise. Do they think Farage and his chums care about them in a way that other politicians don't? Deluded.

Recruitment freeze, it happens every few years. Some trust are also offering mutually agreed resignations. I recently left the NHS for the civil service.

My trust is on a hiring freeze until at least April.
Any jobs are internal only , it’s grim atm.
Still paying £££££ for bank though 🤷🏻‍♀️

Labour has made the cost of employment too high, especially with NI increases, my company has moved thousands of roles to India.

Yep, I’m a healthcare professional in the NHS - off with stress due to personal reasons but that wasn’t helped by the fact I was doing the job of 10 people with no management care or concern when I was at work, and I was trying to carry on until I broke! I have been trying to find a new job both because I can’t cope at my current one and secondly I need to because of my home life and child care responsibilities……. There is nothing 🥲

Newly qualified nurse, I secured job in the May to start in September but not in the trust I trained in, they had 2 ward based jobs. So many of my cohort were going for the same job, it was savage.

I feel really lucky that I wanted part time community (well 30 hours is pretty much full time in my eyes). I was upfront before I applied and they still wanted me to apply as NQN and I got it. I’m so happy there, I don’t know what I’d have done otherwise, cos this was the only community role in 50 mile radius and I know ward work doesn’t fit for me.

its very short sighted though, I can already see how over worked everyone in the team is, forever chasing their tails, they go off sick, staff pick up the slack, they burnout. My manager has been so flexible and so supportive of being solo parent too, I feel for others massively after all that hard work!

Yes, this is the problem. Those who have jobs are so overworked because we are understaffed and demand for our services is massive. Then staff cannot cope, go on sick, the remaining staff have to cover, they burn out…. It’s rubbish

It is a worry! I am a mentor for physiotherapists in similar positions to yours. So far all have stuck with me and the mentorship process and all are achieving their outcomes be that gaining a first post or career development.
It would probably be useful for you to engage in such a scheme. If you approach your professional body they will be able to let you know if there is a scheme and if so match you with a suitable mentor.

Come to Scotland! Jobs aplenty here
I lost my job last Monday, interviewed on Friday for new position and got offered it that day. I start on Friday and its more money!

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer

National insurance has gone up
min wage went up
more costly to get rid of people
Have nhs pension contributions gone up to? Most likely

it is really expensive to hire right now.

keep looking. Something will turn up. Just takes longer