UK OT Workforce 2024–25: results now published in BJOT

The results set out a clear baseline for tracking progress against our Workforce Strategy and shine a light on the realities you navigate every day – rising demand, high stress, limitations to leadership and career progression opportunities and challenges to your evidence-based improvement activities.

Karin Orman, Director of Practice & Innovation

Why this matters

Our sincere thanks to every OT who took the time to complete our Workforce Survey. Over 4% of HCPC-registered OTs responded – your time and dedication give us confidence in using these results as evidence to guide policy, advocacy and service development.

The survey was designed around our Workforce Strategy priority areas:

• optimising occupational therapy
• demonstrating value and impact
• retention and career development
• effective workforce planning.

This provides a baseline to measure change in the months and years ahead.

What you told us

• Demand is climbing. Most respondents (67%) saw demand for OT services increase over the past year, with complexity of needs the most common driver.
• You’re improving services. Engagement in improvement is high – 84% report they sometimes, often or very often lead or take part in improvement activity.
• Satisfaction and stress sit side by side. 57% are satisfied or very satisfied with their roles, while 41% report high stress (7–10 out of 10).
• Service user feedback drives practice. Most practitioners use feedback from service users (71%) and patient-reported outcomes (54%) to inform practice, though use of published research (47%) and cost-effectiveness data (13%) is lower.
• Over a quarter of OTs live with disability or health conditions. 27% (34% among learners) report living with a disability or health condition. Neurodivergence, physical health and mental health are the most common.
• We see the potential in AI. 57% think AI and digital tech could improve our services, but we need support to build confidence – only 6% feel very confident using these tools now.
• Change is expected. 55% anticipate significant changes in their area of practice over the next three years.

How we’re already using the findings to support you and our profession

This evidence is already supporting our influencing work and helping us press for the changes you’ve told us will make the biggest difference.

The workforce survey has been a really valuable resource for us, and we’ve used it in several ways.

• Government consultations: It informed our responses to key consultations, including (but not limited to) the 10‑Year Health Plan and the 10‑Year Workforce Plan.
• Ongoing policy and public affairs work: Cited in meetings with ministers and MPs to help us convey some of the challenges in the sector.
• Parliamentary evidence: The survey has been cited by Sally Payne and Karin Orman during oral evidence sessions to the Health and Social Care Committee.

Importantly, all of this work is forming a baseline that we can measure against as we update and monitor progress on the workforce strategy.

Joe Brunwin, Head of Policy and Practice

This is not the end of the discussion – this is just the beginning

What will happen next

We’ll continue to use the data to:

• monitor and raise critical shortages with government, NHS and social care bodies
• help members measure and communicate value and impact
• build research and innovation capacity
• share workforce models that improve outcomes for people, teams and systems.
• work with journalists to raise awareness of OT and the challenges our workforce faces – the data was already used to highlight the struggle of accessing disability equipment, particularly in the aftermath of the NRS Healthcare collapse.

What you can do next

To get the most out of these findings, share the results with leaders and influencers and discuss with other OTs how this data can inform your next improvement projects.

Conversations in RCOT Communities have already started – head to a relevant network to join in or get one started.

Thank you to everyone who took part. The data you gave us is already being put to good use, advocating for our profession at the highest levels. This publication contributes to the global evidence base, but you can use the findings to make your case locally, strengthen your improvement work, or support your research.'

Dr Elizabeth Taylor, Research and Development Manager

Changemakers

If you do develop an improvement project, already have one underway or want to share the results of it – please head to our Innovation Hub and let us know. We can support you, share your work and help expand your improvements beyond your service.