#midwives#staff shortages#NHS#employment crisis#maternity services#Royal College of Midwives#UK healthcare
📌 Key Takeaways
Nearly a third of newly qualified midwives in the UK cannot find employment in their profession
Many are forced to take jobs in other industries despite maternity staff shortages
Even those employed often face fixed-term contracts and part-time work
The government has acknowledged the issue and created 700 additional roles with £8m funding
📖 Full Retelling
According to a new survey by the Royal College of Midwives, nearly a third of newly qualified midwives in the UK are unable to find employment in their profession despite chronic staff shortages across the maternity sector, forcing many to take up roles in other industries like hospitality, retail, and office work, with the situation attributed to financial constraints and NHS recruitment freezes that are creating a disconnect between midwifery education and available positions. The survey, conducted at the end of 2025 with over 300 newly qualified midwives, revealed that 31% of graduates had not secured a post in their field, with many of those employed working in less than ideal conditions, including 55% on fixed-term contracts and 53% not working full-time. This employment crisis is having a serious impact on graduates' wellbeing, with many experiencing anxiety, stress, and loss of confidence at the start of their careers, compounded by financial pressures as they struggle to meet living costs and repay student loans. The Royal College of Midwives has called on the government to address this issue by investing in permanent posts for newly qualified midwives, while the Department of Health and Social Care has highlighted the creation of 700 additional roles with £8 million in funding and noted there are currently a record 31,024 midwives working in the NHS.
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) is a British midwives organisation founded in 1881 by Louisa Hubbard and Zepherina Smith. It has existed under its present name since 1947 and is the United Kingdom's only trade union or professional organisation for midwives and those that support them. The organ...
Publicly-funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom
The National Health Service (NHS) is the collective term for the four separate publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern Ireland) which was created separately and is often referred to...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
Newly qualified midwives are unable to secure jobs, forcing them into unrelated sectors, which threatens maternity care quality and workforce sustainability.
Context & Background
Staff shortages persist in maternity services
RCM reports 31% of graduates unemployed
Many graduates work on short-term or part-time contracts
Financial constraints and NHS recruitment freezes limit roles
Government has added 700 roles but still insufficient
What Happens Next
The government may expand recruitment plans and secure permanent posts to address the gap, while midwifery bodies push for better funding and workforce strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are newly qualified midwives struggling to find jobs?
Because NHS recruitment freezes and limited permanent posts mean many graduates are offered only short-term or part-time contracts, leaving a third without employment.
What impact does this have on maternity services?
It reduces staffing levels, increases workload for existing staff, and can compromise care quality.
What steps are being taken to resolve the issue?
The government has announced 700 new roles and £8m funding, and the RCM is urging further investment in permanent posts.
How can graduates cope while waiting for positions?
They may seek temporary roles in other industries, but this can cause financial strain and affect wellbeing.
Original Source
Newly qualified midwives struggle to land job - despite 'chronic' staff shortages It comes as Sky News has been putting a spotlight on maternity care in the UK over the last few months, following the release of a report by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation. Friday 20 February 2026 03:25, UK 56:41 Share Watch Sky News maternity care special as six women share stories Why you can trust Sky News Newly qualified midwives are having to take up roles in other industries despite "chronic" staff shortages across the sector, according to a new survey. The Royal College of Midwives claims almost a third of midwifery graduates are unable to find employment and many are turning to roles in hospitality, retail, office work, and cleaning jobs as a result. The situation has been called "troubling" by midwifery leaders, at a time when they say "maternity services are struggling with staff shortages". The RCM surveyed more than 300 newly qualified midwives who had secured their professional registration, at the end of 2025, with 31% saying they had not been able to secure a post. Many of those who had found employment were working in "less than ideal conditions", according to the RCM, with 55% of those on fixed-term contracts rather than permanent contracts. Some 53% of those in work said they were not working full-time. The RCM said there is currently a "disconnect" between the number of midwives in education and the number of "secure and sustainable" roles for them. The College warned that financial constraints and NHS recruitment freezes are "pushing out" newly qualified midwives before they have even started their careers. 7:37 Share 'I was told by midwife to shut up' 'They are being failed' Fiona Gibb, the RCM's director of midwifery, said the uncertainty over employment is "having a serious impact on graduates' wellbeing, with many experiencing anxiety, stress, and loss of confidence at the very start of their careers". Ms Gibb also claimed that a lack of "stab...
