A survey of 14,000 bank and agency staff in the social and health care sector found 32% plan to leave or retire in the next five to ten years.

The survey, carried out by Acacium Group, found 14% of what it calls the “flexible workforce” is expected to leave or retire in the next two years and an additional 18% within the next five to ten years.

The report, Confronting flexible workforce instability in health and social care, found 11% of bank and agency staff were considering roles outside health and social care within the next two years.

A quarter (25%) of bank staff say they have experienced or witnessed discrimination, with 47% expressing concerns about inadequate reporting mechanisms or how concerns are managed. Almost half (45%) of agency and bank staff said “flexibility and work-life balance”‘” was the main reason they decided on this working style.

Mike Barnard, chief executive officer, Acacium Group, said: “The health and social care workforce are the backbone of the NHS. Flexible workers are a key part of this, working shoulder-to-shoulder with full-time staff to deliver high-quality care, so it’s really concerning to see many are considering leaving the sector in the next few years.”

He added: “We know that flexible working allows many professionals to stay in the workforce, and provides additional opportunities for development which is key to job satisfaction. With clear challenges to address, we must all work together to ensure that those who choose to work flexibly have the same support as their full-time colleagues. Without this, the long-term sustainability of our workforce could be at risk.”