Record Numbers on NMC Register Reflect Strength and Diversity of UK Workforce
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has shared its latest registration stats, revealing a new high of 853,707 professionals now on its register. This includes nurses, midwives, and nursing associates – a group that now makes up about two percent of the UK’s working-age population.
From April 2024 to March 2025, 32,163 UK-trained professionals joined the register, which is a 5.9 percent increase compared to last year. While growth is still happening, the rate is a bit lower than the 11.9 percent rise seen in 2023–2024. On the other hand, the number of internationally trained professionals joining has dropped quite a bit, down by nearly a third to 20,671.
The new numbers also show that the nursing and midwifery workforce is becoming more diverse. There are now 277,716 professionals from Black, Asian, and other ethnic minority backgrounds registered – the highest ever. This milestone highlights how important inclusivity has become in the sector. The NMC has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling bias and promoting equality in everything it does. As part of this, the organization has signed the UNISON anti-racism charter and will be rolling out new measures to make sure its processes are fair.
While the overall register keeps growing, the NMC also reported that 28,789 professionals left in the past year – a small uptick from the previous period. Retirement is still the main reason, but there are concerns about the number leaving due to physical or mental health issues, with many saying their roles were a contributing factor.
The NMC hopes sharing these insights will help with broader workforce planning and sector growth. The report gives a clear picture of a profession that now makes up one in every 50 working-age people in the UK – a strong reminder of how vital nurses and midwives are to the country’s health and wellbeing. You can read the complete NMC report and all their previous reports by visiting their website or clicking on the link here.