266,000 night workers in South West, TUC analysis shows

There are now 266,000 people regularly working nights in the South West, according to new TUC analysis published today (Saturday).  

In the region, 11.3% of the workforce are regularly doing night shifts.  

The analysis also shows that older workers are powering the national increase in night working, with workers over 50 accounting for all the growth in night workers since 2014.  

Across Britain, there are now nearly one million (924,000) night workers aged over 50 – up from 751,000 five years ago. A significant proportion are aged over 60 (222,000) and 65 (69,000).  

Yet while the number of over 50s doing night work has accelerated in recent years, fewer young workers are doing night shifts.  

The TUC says key factors behind the rise are: 

• older employees staying in work for longer;  
• more jobs being created in sectors like social care where older workers are more likely to be employed.

Care workers most likely to work nights

Care workers (432,000) are now most likely to work night shifts, followed by nurses and midwives (232,000).  

The next most common profession for night workers is road transport drivers (208,000).  

The number of employees working in social care has increased by 66,000 in the past 5 years. 63,000 of this increase was accounted for by workers aged over 50. 

Night working reaches record highs  

The number of people regularly working night shifts in Britain is at its highest level since the Office for National Statistics began collecting records in their current form. 

The analysis shows that in total 3.25 million people (more than 1 in 9 workers) work in Britain’s night-time economy– 100,000 more than five years ago. 

Serious impact on health and family life 

As the clocks go back tonight to mark the beginning of winter, the TUC is urging greater protection for the millions of UK workers who regularly work through the night. 

As well as being bad for family life, the health risks of regular night work include cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression. And these risks are heightened for older workers, says the TUC. 

Commenting on the analysis, TUC South West regional secretary Nigel Costley said:  

“Britain’s loyal army of night workers has been boosted significantly by older workers. 

“We all owe them a huge debt for keeping the country ticking over while we are asleep. 

“However, working nights can be really tough – it can disrupt family life and place a strain on people’s health and their pockets with costs soaring due to limited public transport or childcare services.”   

“Night workers can also be subject to damaging insecure work contracts and low pay. 

“This government is not doing enough to protect night workers. They need better notice of night shifts and proper compensation to account for the increased costs of night working.”