Identifying the barriers to employment faced by carers in the North East

The North East Combined Authority commissioned research, led by Durham County Carers Support with seven carers’ organisations, to strengthen understanding of how unpaid caring shaped access to and experience of employment. The work explored the barriers carers faced, the support they needed and the ways employers and carers’ services responded.

Between November 2025 and January 2026, the research combined:

in-depth interviews with 145 carers
five follow-up focus groups involving seven interviewed carers
an online survey of 307 carers
an online survey of 78 staff from carers’ organisations.

The evidence shows a consistent view that carers face significant additional barriers to accessing and sustaining employment. Most carers not currently seeking work cite their caring role as the main reason for this. Very few idented lack of motivation or skills, indicating that economic inactivity among carers is driven by constraint rather than choice.

For carers already in work, the balance between caring and employment remained demanding. Among employed carers responding, 79% had struggled or had only just managed to combine work and care. Carers described compromises that included reducing hours, limiting responsibilities and turning down progression opportunities. Flexible hours, home working, understanding managers, carers’ leave and supportive colleagues had helped people remain in work.

Carers consistently emphasised the importance of personalised employability support that considers their role as a carer. Trusted organisations, especially Carers Centres, were seen as vital in providing relevant and appropriate support, helping carers feel less overwhelmed and more able to take gradual steps towards employment.

The findings informed recommendations that focused on:

carer-centred employment pathways
tailored skills, confidence and re-entry support
more flexible and supportive employer practice
clearer rights, protections and communication
stronger coordination through carers’ services.

The work left partners with a clearer account of how employment had intersected with caring, alongside practical priorities for service design, employer practice and strategic decision-making. It also placed carers’ experiences at the centre of future approaches to employment support across the region.

The report is available to read here.