Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.Long-term care is an increasingly important sector of employment for migrant workers, both in the United Kingdom (UK) and in most immigrant-receiving countries. This study investigated the current and potential future demand for migrant carers in ageing societies; the experiences of migrant care workers, of their employers and of older people in residential and home care settings; and the implications of these findings for the social care and for migration policies. Focusing on the UK, it was one of four country studies conducted between 2007 and 2009 in the UK, Ireland, the USA and Canada. The research methodology included analysis of existing national data sources on the social care workforce, a postal and online survey of care organisations, collection of qualitative data from migrant care workers and older care users and projections of future demand for migrant workforce in older adult care. The dataset is drawn from a survey of organisations providing care services to older people in the UK carried out between January and June 2008. Surveyed employers were asked to regard as 'migrants' people who were born abroad. The questionnaire mainly included closed-end questions and focused on the structure of the workforce, the reasons for the reliance on migrant workers, the recruitment process, the management implications of the employment of migrant staff, and employer experiences with immigration regulations. Further information about the study is available from the COMPAS Migrant Care Workers in Ageing Societies UK web page.Main Topics:The aim of the survey was to explore the demand for and employment characteristics of migrant workers in care for older people. The questionnaire focused on the structure of the social care workforce, the reasons for the reliance on migrant workers, the recruitment process, and the management implications of employment of migrant staff.