Nine in ten Gen Z believe nursing is the most valuable career to society but are being put off by low wages and pressures in NHS services, as the nursing union calls for government action to raise pay and improve perceptions.

It comes as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) leader warns of a ‘ticking time bomb’ with new analysis showing 175,000 nursing staff could retire from the profession within ten years. 

At the RCN’s annual conference in Liverpool, General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger will use her keynote speech today (Monday) to call on governments to raise starting salaries, ‘forgive’ student loans and harness Gen Z’s ‘passion for care and public service’ to solve the nurse workforce crisis. 

Professor Ranger will call for ‘significant’ NHS pay uplifts to be announced without further ‘dither and delay’ by governments and for the awards to be fully-funded. She will urge governments not to ‘sail close to the wind’ and avoid industrial action by valuing the nursing profession this summer. Ranger will call current staffing levels ‘dreadfully unsafe’ as one registered nurse is left in charge of up to 40 patients. 

The new poll of over 2,000 young people aged 16-18 by YouGov saw nine in ten (91%) say nursing has the joint highest value to society, alongside doctors. However, an almost identical number (88%) would not consider it as a career, with low wages (52%) and pressures in services (55%) top of reasons not to join.

Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) confirm that the numbers applying to study nursing at university in the UK has fallen by 34% since 2021, down from 46,040 to 30,550. 

The College also releases new analysis of the official Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) data which reveals the changing age profile of nursing professionals. As young people are pushed away from the profession, one in five (21%) registered nurses in the UK are due to retire in the next ten years, equivalent to 175,000 nursing staff being lost from the workforce. Since September 2019, the number of people aged 56 and over on the NMC register has increased by 24%, up from 141,000. 

Despite being considered the most valuable to society, young people placed nursing second bottom for its potential to earn a good wage, below 16 other professions, including content creators and social media influencers, teachers, civil servants, estate agents, physiotherapists and police. Only a paramedic was perceived to be lower paid than a registered nurse.

When asked what would make a nursing career more attractive, young people surveyed chose not paying back student loans, higher salaries, well-funded health services and having enough staff as the top three policies that would make a difference [NOTES].

Across the UK, there are over 34,000 nursing vacancies in the NHS with shortages in every setting. In England alone, pay for a typical nurse has fallen by a quarter in real terms since 2010/11.

The nursing union will call for new and increased starting salaries for nurses in all four countries of the UK, better financial incentives for students and coordinated government-led recruitment campaigns to encourage more young people into nursing. According to the polling, three quarters (75%) of young people have never been encouraged to pursue nursing as a career.

In England, the RCN has called for starting salaries to increase to around £35k, up from £29,970, whilst ministers should agree to write off the student loans for those who commit to working in the NHS or wider public services on graduation, alongside introducing increased and universal maintenance grants for nursing students.

To more than 3,000 nursing staff gathered in Liverpool, Professor Ranger will say:

“Young people can see the value nursing has to society and they have passion for care and public service. But low pay and the prospect of working in underfunded services mean so few consider it a career for them. Gen Z are the future of our profession and key to transforming health and care for decades to come. Unlocking their talent and potential must become an urgent priority for every government. 

“Without enough young people, the ‘ticking time bomb’ of large-scale retirement will remain. That must mean stronger financial incentives to study nursing and better starting salaries for new recruits, underpinned by modern campaigns that reach young people where they are, on social media, in schools and colleges.”

On upcoming NHS pay awards and industrial action, Ranger will say: 

“In the NHS, your pay award was due six weeks ago. Government should stop the dither and delay and make the announcements. It has now been a whole month since the Pay Review Body gave its report and recommendations to government but still no news. We need a significant pay rise for nursing and for every NHS employer to be given the full money to pay it - anything else is a cut to patient services. 

“I’m not here to tell you we’re going on strike. You will decide how you feel and we will plan together the best way to get what nursing needs. But I ask ministers not to sail close to the wind. If you continue to insult this profession, leave it ailing and underpaid this summer then you know how this could escalate.

“Nursing has more than earned a higher place in health care and in society. But too many start and finish their career on the same pay band, with no recognition of all the experience gained over their career. We are making the case to governments for a clear pathway to career progression to get people to see a future in nursing.”

On care in corridors and poor staffing levels, Ranger will also say:

“Right now, staffing levels are dreadfully unsafe. One registered nurse to 15 to 20 patients. One nurse told me she was the only person left in charge of 40. It’s taking advantage of your goodwill and you take home guilt when you’ve not been able to deliver high quality care.

“Safety is not an optional extra – it should be the standard. Caring for patients in corridors is not ‘the norm’ and we have to be clear we do not accept it.

“These tough times require political leaders that are tougher and reach for the big ideas, not modest tinkering. Nursing needs investment, recognition and to be valued.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Age analysis: The NMC publishes data every 6 months with a breakdown of the age of registrants. We compared the September 2024 data (most recent) with September 2019 and found that there has been an increase from 141,042 to 174,243. This data includes Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives and Nursing Associates (although the numbers of RMs and NAs is relatively small). This increase constitutes a 24% growth. Source: nmc-register-september-2024-uk-data-tables.xlsx

Equivalency with NHS nursing workforce: In September 2024 there were 361,121 nurses and health visitors employed in the NHS in England, half of which is 180,560. This figure is very similar to the 174,243 NMC registrants due to retire in the next 10 years. Source: NHS Workforce Statistics, January 2025 Staff Group, Care Setting and Level.xlsx 

Retirement age: There is some variation in when nursing staff can retire, depending on which pension scheme section they are on. Typically, this will be either 60 or 65. We therefore selected to undertake analysis on the registrants aged 56+ who will be likely to retire in the next 10 years. 

YouGov polling, 16 – 18 year olds

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2011 GB 16-18 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th April - 4th May 2025.  The survey was carried out online. Data can be requested.

When asked to select professionals that provide value to society, respondents said Nurses (91%), Doctors (91%), Paramedics (90%), Teachers (88%) and Scientists (80%) provide the most value to society. Content creator/social media influencers came bottom (6%).

When asked what professionals have the potential to earn a good wage, respondents said the following professions had the least potential to earn a good wage: Paramedics (16%), Nurses (18%), Teachers (26%), Journalist (30%), Physiotherapists (18%). Lawyers and judges were considered to have the most potential to earn a good wage (84%)

When asked how likely they were to consider a career in nursing, 88% of respondents said they were unlikely to:

• Fairly unlikely (11%)
• Very unlikely (77%)

Of respondents unlikely to consider a career in nursing the following reasons were the top two:

• Difficult pressures in the NHS and other health services (55%)
• Low pay (52%)

75% of respondents said that no one has encouraged or suggested they pursue a career in nursing 

When asked what would make nursing a more attractive career students in England and Wales said: 

If I didn’t have to pay back my student loan if I work in the NHS (59%)

Higher salaries for nurses (56%)

Well-funded health services prioritised by governments (56%)

Financial support with living costs while studying (53%)

While students in Scotland – who have access to funded education – said: 

• Well-funded health services prioritised by governments (54%)
• Guarantees that my workplace would have enough nurses on shift when I go to work (54%)
• A guaranteed job if I graduated as a nurse (53%)
• Higher salaries for nurses (51%)