Workforce data

The College is committed to collecting comprehensive workforce data that we can use to advocate for and support effective workforce planning for pathology services across the UK. This data is pivotal in informing discussions with government bodies, healthcare organisations and other stakeholders to ensure the pathology workforce has the right resources and the right support to deliver the highest quality of care for patients.

RCPath Workforce Census 2025 

To support the College’s Workforce Strategy 2025-2028 and inform our workforce planning efforts, we conducted a workforce census in 2025 which over 2,900 members responded to.  

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 for upcoming Government and NHS plans.   

We are currently reviewing and analysing the results to identify key trends and challenges within the workforce across the specialities and across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

We will publish our key findings periodically over the coming months, focusing on key areas such as overall response rate, retirement intentions, morale and wellbeing, career intentions and insights into post-graduate training.   

If you have any questions on this work, please contact the workforce team.