Carers UK figures show rising unpaid care burden

What's happened

Carers UK reports a rise in people leaving work to provide unpaid care, with about 1.5k individuals per day doing so and a £37 billion annual cost to the economy. The government is reviewing employment rights for carers while calls for paid leave grow.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

• What changed: A steady increase in unpaid carers leaving work is now reaching new daily levels, signaling policy pressure.
• Who benefits: Carers UK argues for stronger rights; employers and the broader economy could benefit from improved retention and productivity.
• What to watch: Government action on paid carers’ leave and the scope of employment rights will shape work-care balance in the coming months.
• Reader relevance: If you balance work and care, expect evolving protections and possible new leave entitlements.

Key questions readers may have

• Will paid carers’ leave become law?
• How will employers implement new rights without hurting flexibility?
• What support is available today for carers juggling work and care?

How we got here

The Guardian and Independent reports in mid-September 2026 highlight that more Britons are juggling paid work and unpaid care. Carers UK cites a growing care burden driven by an aging population and more disabled members within families. The government has launched consultations on extending rights for carers, including potential paid leave.

Our analysis

The Guardian reports on Carers UK findings; Independent coverage details the poll data and government responses; both cite Emily Holzhausen of Carers UK and Prime Minister’s comments on care. Direct quotes are used in the reporting to illustrate the tension between economic costs and personal impact.

Go deeper

• What protections for carers are most likely to be introduced next?
• How can a carer verify their rights with an employer today?
• Will employer support vary by sector or region?

More on these topics

• Carers UK - British charitable organization

  Carers UK is the main membership charity in the United Kingdom for carers. It was formed by the merger of two existing voluntary organisations on 14 May 1988. Originally constituted as Carers National Association it was renamed Carers UK in 2001.

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.

• Wales - UK constituent country

  Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021, it had a population of 3.2 million.

• Scotland - Country of the United Kingdom

  Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a 96 mile border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and w

• England - Country of the United Kingdom

  England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by

• Department for Business and Trade - Government department

  The Department for Business and Trade is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership.

• Andy Burnham - Mayor of Greater Manchester

  Andrew Murray Burnham is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He attended Gordon Brown’s Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2007 to 2008 and served in the Cabinet as Culture Secretary f