Newly Qualified Midwives Struggle to Secure Jobs Despite 'Chronic' NHS Staff Shortages
A recent survey has uncovered a troubling paradox in the UK's healthcare sector: newly qualified midwives are unable to find employment, even as maternity services face severe staff shortages. The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) reports that almost one-third of midwifery graduates are turning to roles in hospitality, retail, office work, and cleaning due to a lack of secure positions in the NHS.
Survey Highlights Employment Crisis
The RCM conducted a survey of over 300 newly qualified midwives who had obtained their professional registration by the end of 2025. The findings are stark: 31% of respondents had not been able to secure a post in midwifery. Among those who did find employment, many are working in less than ideal conditions, with 55% on fixed-term contracts rather than permanent roles, and 53% not working full-time.
Fiona Gibb, the RCM's director of midwifery, expressed deep concern over the situation. She stated that the uncertainty surrounding employment is having a serious impact on graduates' wellbeing, leading to anxiety, stress, and a loss of confidence at the very start of their careers. Additionally, the lack of stable employment is causing financial pressures, with graduates struggling to meet living costs and repay student loans.
Disconnect Between Education and Employment
The RCM has identified a significant disconnect between the number of midwives in education and the availability of secure and sustainable roles for them. Financial constraints and NHS recruitment freezes are cited as key factors pushing newly qualified midwives out of the profession before they even begin their careers. This trend undermines efforts to address the chronic staff shortages plaguing maternity services across the country.
In response to the crisis, the RCM is calling on the government to invest in permanent posts. Ms. Gibb emphasized, "At a time when maternity services are struggling with staff shortages, we should be doing everything we can to bring these newly qualified professionals into the workforce. Instead, they are being failed, which is undermining the future maternity workforce we so desperately need."
Government Response and Broader Context
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged the issue, stating, "No one who dedicates themselves to a career in midwifery should be left in limbo, when their skills are so urgently needed to rebuild our NHS." The spokesperson highlighted that the government has delivered 700 additional roles for newly qualified midwives, backed by £8 million in funding, and noted a record 31,024 midwives currently working in the NHS. They added that a 10-year workforce plan will outline strategies for training, recruiting, and retaining the midwifery workforce long-term.
This employment crisis comes amid heightened scrutiny of maternity care in the UK. Over the past few months, Sky News has spotlighted the sector, with hundreds of women sharing their stories following the release of an interim report by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. Baroness Amos, leading the investigation, remarked that "nothing prepared her" for the amount of "unacceptable care" families are currently receiving, underscoring the urgent need for systemic improvements.
