The United Kingdom has seen a significant influx of African care workers in response to its elderly care crisis, with numbers nearly tripling in the past year. This surge follows changes in visa regulations aimed at addressing staff shortages exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit.
According to newly released Home Office data analyzed by Semafor Africa, the majority of foreigners entering Britain’s care system now hail from Africa. In 2023, approximately 57,000 Africans were granted entry on a Health and Care visa, compared to just over 20,000 in 2022. These figures represent over half of the approximately 106,000 individuals permitted to work in Britain’s care sector last year.
The British government took action to tackle the shortage of care workers by adding them to a list of occupations eligible for visas in December 2021. This move aimed to address the sharp rise in worker shortages experienced during the pandemic, which has left the country’s aging population in need of critical care and support.
The rise in African care workers highlights the West’s increasing reliance on migrants from Africa, the world’s youngest continent, to cater to the needs of its aging populations. This trend underscores the crucial role that immigrants play in filling essential roles within the UK’s healthcare system.
As the demand for elderly care continues to grow, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, the contribution of African care workers is poised to remain pivotal in meeting the UK’s care needs and ensuring the well-being of its elderly population.
