What does the NHS workforce look like in Wales?
Introduction
The NHS in Wales is powered by a diverse, skilled and committed workforce - the largest employer in the country and a vital part of our health and care system. From doctors, nurses and midwives to paramedics, scientists, therapists, managers and support staff, tens of thousands of people work every day across hospitals, GP practices, and communities to deliver safe, effective care.
Wales’ health and care workforce does not exist in isolation. It’s shaped by wider trends across the UK and internationally, including an ageing population with multiple health conditions, changing expectations about work, and increased demand for healthcare. Fewer young people entering the labour market, more older people working for longer, and a growing need for flexible and digitally enabled roles all influence the NHS’s ability to plan for, recruit and retain its workforce. At the same time, advances in treatment, technology and new models of care are changing how and where staff work, helping services adapt to these pressures.
This explainer outlines the current make-up of the NHS Wales workforce, how it is changing, and the national action being taken to attract, educate, train and retain the staff we need for the future. Much of this work is led by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the national body responsible for workforce planning, education and training, alongside Welsh Government, NHS organisations and wider partners.
Who makes up the NHS Wales workforce?
The NHS workforce comprises around 350 different roles. These are organised into the following professional groups:
- Nursing and midwifery: including nurses, midwives, health visitors, district nurses, school nurses, mental health nurses, healthcare support workers, general practice nurses and dental nurses.
- Administrative and clerical staff: including human resources, information technologists, finance, data and other essential office-based services.
- Additional Clinical Services: including phlebotomists, assistant psychologists, call operators, technicians and urgent care assistants.
- Allied Health Professionals (AHPs): including paramedics, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists and dietitians.
- Medical and dental staff: including doctors, consultants, dentists and other medical professionals.
- Estates & Ancillary: including porters, cleaners, engineers, and catering.
- Additional Professional, Scientific & Technical: including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and dispensing opticians.
- Healthcare scientists: including clinical, biomedical and healthcare science practitioners.
What is the current size of the NHS Wales workforce?
The NHS Wales workforce is huge and diverse group, making the NHS the largest employer in Wales.
As of June 2025, NHS Wales employed 114,841 people (equivalent to 99,139 full-time staff FTE). This is the highest number on record and continues a decade long pattern of growth.
Staff in primary and community care, such as GPs, dentists and community pharmacists, are usually independent contractors and are not included in NHS Wales’s direct employment figures. However, as highlighted within our previous explainer, How is primary care provided in Wales?, there are a number of professions and people who support and deliver primary and community care services. For example, as of the 30 June 2025 there were 1,572 FTE fully qualified GPs providing healthcare from 370 general practices in Wales. As of October 2024, there were 1,398 people working within the dental workforce.
For further information, HEIW publishes detailed analysis each year through its Workforce Trends Report, providing a five-year view of key NHS Wales workforce metrics.
How long does training take?
Education and training to become a regulated health professional takes several years and combines academic study with supervised clinical experience. Typical training times include:
Which national bodies help shape the NHS workforce?
A range of national bodies work together to shape the NHS workforce:
What are the key workforce strategies in Wales?
A Healthier Wales: Our Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care sets out a 10-year ambition for the health and care workforce. Developed jointly by HEIW and Social Care Wales with partners, the strategy focuses on staff wellbeing, recruitment, digital readiness, education, leadership and ensuring the workforce has the right skills in the right places.
As of January 2026, to support delivery, NHS Wales has eight strategic workforce plans covering areas such as:
Alongside these sit the Allied Health Professionals Workforce Development Plan and the Healthcare Science Career Framework.
What is being done to attract and recruit staff?
NHS Wales organisations promote the benefits of living, training and working in Wales through targeted recruitment campaigns, supported nationally by HEIW. The NHS Wales Careers service provides information on the full range of roles and the education needed to access them. Information is also available about the NHS Wales Student Bursary Scheme which provides funding for eligible Welsh Students on specific healthcare courses in Wales.
For some professions, recruitment processes are streamlined and centralised through NHS Wales Shared Services.
What is being done to retain NHS staff?
Retaining experienced staff is critical to delivering safe, high-quality care. A range of initiatives are in place to improve NHS staff experience and reduce turnover. They include:
- Belong, Thrive, Stay: a national retention programme focused on staff experience and compassionate workplaces.
- Wellbeing and mental health support, including Health for Health Professionals Wales, which provides a free, confidential service for staff, students and volunteers.
- Flexible working and supportive policies, helping staff balance work and home life.
- Reducing reliance on agency staff, supported by improved retention and increased training numbers.
- Continuing professional development, extensive, supported development opportunities across professional groups to help staff thrive in their career.
How are the views of the workforce considered?
Listening to staff is central to improving workforce experience. The NHS Wales Staff Survey, undertaken annually, provides national and local insights into staff experience and helps track progress against the workforce strategy.
Other surveys, including the General Medical Council training survey and the national student survey, also inform improvements across education and workforce planning.
What are the terms and conditions in the NHS?
Most NHS staff in Wales are employed under ‘Agenda for Change’ terms and conditions, which provide a consistent framework for pay, leave and employment rights across the UK, with flexibility for the Welsh context. Doctors, dentists and primary care contractors have their own arrangements.
How is the use of the Welsh Language promoted?
Speaking Welsh is not a requirement to work in NHS Wales, and we welcome colleagues from all over the world. At the same time, providing NHS services in Welsh is an important priority, as communicating in a patient’s first language helps improve care and outcomes. Staff are encouraged to use Welsh across all services, and free training is available for anyone who wants to learn. Even small efforts to use Welsh with patients are valued and help make them feel more comfortable and supported.
How does digital play a role in the transformation of the NHS workforce?
As health and care services evolve, technology is playing an ever-increasing role in diagnosis, treatment, and service delivery. Digital technology is fundamentally transforming the NHS workforce by changing what roles exist, how staff work and the skills they need. Rather than replacing people, digital tools are acting as a catalyst to make care more efficient, integrated and person-centred.
Furthermore, digital technology is changing how care is delivered and documented. This reduces administrative burden and allows staff to focus on patients. For example:
- Electronic Patient Records (EPRs): Moving away from paper-based records to digital systems streamlines information sharing, reduces duplication of work and provides a more complete picture of a patient's health history.
- AI and Automation: Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are being used to handle repetitive, time-consuming tasks.
In addition, AI enabled learning tools and digital education platforms are increasingly being used to support personalised learning, workforce development and new career pathways. This work is being led nationally by HEIW who have also developed the Digital Capability Framework enabling staff to self-assess their digital skills, identify areas for growth and create tailored development plans - ensuring everyone has the skills and confidence to use new technologies effectively.
Summary
NHS Wales depends on a large and diverse workforce that is essential to the health and wellbeing of people and communities across the country. But the system faces significant pressures - from rising demand to workforce shortages and the pace of technological change.
Meeting these challenges requires a coordinated approach. Welsh Government, HEIW, NHS Wales organisations, Social Care Wales and partners across regulation, education and professional bodies all play a role. Their shared aim is clear: to build a workforce that is skilled, supported, adaptable and sustainable, now and for the future.
