HOME Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms would worsen the care sector staffing crisis, according to new analysis.

Unison wrote to Ms Mahmood today warning that a massive drop in overseas care workers has not led to a rise in domestic employment or higher wages.

Its analysis of the latest industry employment figures show that the number of new international recruits hired into care jobs plunged from 105,000 in 2023/24 to 30,000 in 2025/26.

The number of social care jobs filled by British workers has dropped by 70,000 over the same period.

Unison demanded that Ms Mahmood reverse plans to make international health and care staff wait 15 years before they can settle in Britain, instead of the current five.

There are already 96,000 care worker vacancies and the changes would mean thousands won’t get the vital care they need, according to the union.

In the letter to Ms Mahmood, it says: “Poor pay in social care is not evidence of the workers’ low skill or contribution. It is the result of longstanding policy failure. The prime minister has acknowledged this and stated his ambition to increase the wages of care staff.

“It would be deeply unfair and contradictory for immigration policy to treat care workers as low value simply because they’re in a poorly-paid sector, while the government tries to improve the status, respect and reward for care work.”

Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said: “If the government’s serious about fixing social care, it should immediately scrap these cruel plans that will make it harder to recruit staff.

“Terrible pay and working conditions are creating shortages in the social care sector. These figures make that crystal clear. A massive drop in overseas workers has not led to rising domestic recruitment or higher wages.

“Attempts to force existing staff out of the country are wrong by every measure. If the government doesn’t drop these plans, the prime minister’s hope of transforming the lives of millions through a national care service will never happen.”

Unison says the current system leaves workers open to “appalling exploitation” and is calling for international care staff to be given sector-wide visa sponsorship rather than tying them to one employer.

The Home Office was contacted for comment.