More than 2,500 members responded this year, enabling the College to produce its most comprehensive and robust dataset to date. For the first time, this also allows us to benchmark findings against the 2025 census.

Your contributions will help provide a clear picture of the pathology workforce across the 17 specialties. Insights that are fundamental in continuing to deliver the College Workforce Strategy 2025–2028, ensuring that we have accurate, representative data to address workforce shortages and advocate for better resources and support across pathology services and the workforce.

As the College moves into delivering its Train and Retain aims — and with the next Workforce Census not scheduled until 2028 — the data gathered over the past two years significantly enhances our workforce intelligence.

What happens next?  

• Data analysis: We will thoroughly review and analyse the results to identify key trends and challenges within the workforce across the specialities and across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We anticipate that the analysis will be completed in Summer 2026.  
• Key findings: We will periodically publish key findings over the coming months, focusing on the key strategic aims within our 2025-2028 Workforce Strategy, Train, Retain, Reform and Contingency.
• Policy and advocacy efforts: The insights gained from the census data will inform our discussions with policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure pathology workforce needs are met. They will also enable us to respond to calls for evidence in upcoming consultations.