The proportion of social care workers citing compensation as the most important factor they consider when choosing to work for a specific company has doubled over the past three years, according to research by social care recruitment agency Randstad Care.

In 2012, when the worst of the global crash was over but the country was still technically in recession, just 10% of social care workers admitted that compensation was top of their agenda. But fast forward to the present day and a fifth of respondents now claims that potential remuneration is their highest priority when weighing up new employers.

In simple terms, a higher salary is more important to those seeking a new role in the post-recession climate, particularly those beginning their careers.   

Randstad Care said the findings – from research conducted for this year’s Randstad Award – should represent a warning to social care employers attempting to attract new talent into the sector.

Randstad Care’s managing director, Victoria Short, added: “It would appear that those taking their first steps on the social care career ladder are less burdened by salary taboos and know what they want from a first job. Employers need to be mindful of this or they could risk alienating swathes of potential fresh talent that are turned off by the remuneration on offer.

“Coupled with the Chancellor’s announcements in the Emergency Budget around the National Living Wage, social care employers need to be aware that they are going to have to start paying out more for even the most junior positions.”