Health and Social Care Vacancies Rise by 8.8% in Northern Ireland

Date published: 21 May 2025

New official statistics published today by NISRA statisticians in the Department of Health present figures on vacancies actively being recruited across Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland at 31 March 2025.

Key findings:

• There were 5,851 vacancies actively being recruited across HSC in Northern Ireland at 31 March 2025, representing an 8.8% increase from the previous year.
• The vacancy rate across HSC stands at 6.9% of all posts.
• The Nursing & Midwifery occupational family had the highest number of vacancies (1,801), accounting for 30.8% of all HSC vacancies in recruitment.
• The Nursing & Midwifery Support staff group had the highest vacancy rate at 10.4% (562 vacancies).
• Belfast HSC Trust had the highest number of vacancies actively being recruited (1,569), while all regional HSC Trusts reported an increase in vacancies between March 2024 and March 2025.
• The Western HSC Trust saw the largest annual percentage increase in vacancies at 22.9%, followed by Northern (11.9%), South Eastern (5.9%), Southern (3.9%), and Belfast (2.1%) HSC Trusts.
• Among other HSC organisations, the Business Services Organisation (BSO) had the highest number of vacancies actively being recruited (191), an increase of 13.7% since last year.
• The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service reported a 72.5% increase in vacancies compared to last year, partly due to new posts created for the first graduates of the BSc Paramedic programme.

About the publication

The full report provides detailed analysis of:

• Vacancies by staff group
• Vacancies by regional HSC Trust and other HSC organisations
• Vacancies by pay band
• Five-year trend data (2020-2025)

Further information

Read the full report: Health and Social Care Active Recruitment Statistics - Vacancies at 31 March 2025

View interactive dashboard: Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Active Recruitment Statistics Interactive Dashboard