Around 50% of care workers in England earns less than supermarket employees, according to new research.

The research by The King’s Fund found 395,000 out of 790,000 care workers earn within 30 pence of the National Living Wage. By contrast, nine out of ten supermarkets paid above the National Living Wage as of June 2022.

The King’s Fund research indicates how care worker salaries have fallen behinds other sectors in recent years as local authority spending has dropped by 18% in real terms between 2009/10 and 2019/20. Retail assistants were paid 16 pence an hour less than care workers in 2012/13 before the full effect of local authority cuts kicked in.

Care workers are also paid less than NHS healthcare assistants with average salaries of £17,900 and £18,005, respectively, as of 2020/21.

The research showed care worker and NHS pay differentials rose with length of service with the latter also benefiting from greater access to training, development and career opportunities.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We value the huge contribution to society which care workers make day-in, day-out. This is why we are providing at least £500 million to workforce development, training and wellbeing.

“This is part of an additional £5.4 billion investment into adult social via the health and care levy which will allow us to continue a comprehensive programme of reform.

“Local authorities work with private care providers to determine fee rates, which should take account of wage costs, based on local market conditions.

“April’s increase in the National Living Wage means a full-time care worker on the NLW will see their annual earnings rise by over £1,000 this year.”