Indeed’s Careers in Care helps healthcare employers connect with professionals through curated job listings, transparent pay and wellbeing insights
- 92% of healthcare workers have experienced burnout, with 1 in 5 working more than 21 hours of overtime each week
- 56% say understaffing is making their job significantly harder. Despite this, 67% say they feel fulfilled in their role, with midwives recording the highest satisfaction rate
- Workers say better roles exist – but 63% struggle to find them due to stress, exhaustion and poor job visibility
For the majority of healthcare workers, their job is more than just a role – 79% say they feel like they’re making a difference. But for many, the day-to-day reality is dominated by burnout, long hours, and limited opportunities to progress.
New data from matching and hiring platform Indeed - taken from a survey of over 1000 healthcare professionals in the UK - reveals that 92% of healthcare workers have experienced burnout, with 96% reporting that they regularly work overtime. The average amount of overtime worked is 14 hours, almost a third (28%) of which is unpaid. This rises among mental health workers, of whom 22% work 21 hours or more unpaid per week.
More than 1 in 5 healthcare workers (22%) say they clock over 21 hours of paid overtime per week – the equivalent of almost three extra working days. And yet, nearly half (44%) still feel undervalued, while 56% say understaffing is significantly making their job harder.
For some, this pressure is becoming untenable. Over a third (34%) are actively considering leaving their current role, but - encouragingly - 63% of respondents believe better work exists within the industry, but struggle to find the right opportunity.
More support, less strain
Despite the ongoing pressures, many healthcare workers remain committed to their profession and continue to find meaning in their roles. Helping patients (49%), working collaboratively (37%) and building strong relationships (36%) are consistently cited as the most rewarding parts of the job. Satisfaction is particularly high among midwives, all of whom say they’re happy in their role (100%), followed closely by pharmacists (95%) and mental health professionals (94%).
But for many, the challenge lies not in the work itself – but in finding the right environment to thrive. 85% of workers say belonging is important to them, but feel it is missing from their current role.
So while 63% believe better roles are out there in the industry, over half (51%) say they’re too exhausted after their shifts to search for a new job, while a similar number (55%) describe the process of finding a suitable role as “like finding a needle in a haystack.”
A new way to find better work in care
Indeed’s Careers in Care is designed to help healthcare workers find jobs that offer better pay, stronger support, and a greater sense of purpose.
The platform features a curated job board, highlighting roles from employers with high company ratings and pay information listed upfront – a key priority for healthcare workers, with 78% saying salary transparency is essential, and many noting it helps save time for both sides. It also showcases positive Work Wellbeing Scores – important for those 85% who feel that belonging is important to them.
It also includes articles, videos, and content tailored to support healthcare professionals.
Indeed maintains high standards for the jobs it features – so workers can feel confident they’re exploring opportunities that reflect their values.
Conor McCarthy, Vice President at Indeed, says: “Healthcare professionals give so much of themselves every day and they deserve access to roles that reward that dedication. The Careers in Careis designed to provide personalised support and job search guidance that empowers current and future healthcare workers as they navigate their careers. We want to help connect our much needed healthcare workers with the right opportunities, through featuring trusted employers, clear salary information, and a focus on workplaces that prioritise wellbeing and belonging.
Better work does exist in the care sector, and with the right tools, finding it doesn’t have to feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. We believe that when healthcare workers thrive, the whole system benefits, from happier staff to better patient care.”
The Careers in Care brings together what workers say they need most – visibility, trust, and tailored support – all in one place.