Data released through parliamentary questions reveals a significant shift in workforce composition among National Health Service midwives in England, with younger professionals departing at accelerating rates. During the 2025-26 period, 1,669 midwives aged 34 or under left their positions, representing more than half of the 2,949 total midwife resignations recorded across all age groups. The departing younger cohort included 205 professionals under 25 years old, 655 between ages 25 and 29, and 809 between 30 and 34.
The exodus of early-career midwives has intensified considerably in recent years. The most recent figure represents a 59% increase compared to the 1,051 younger midwives who departed in 2014-15. Additionally, attrition extends to the pipeline of future practitioners, with concerning dropout rates among those pursuing midwifery education. Of 3,565 students who began midwifery degree programs in 2021, only 2,725 completed their training by 2024, indicating a 24% dropout rate among trainees.
Conditions within maternity services are driving the departures, according to both professional organizations and policy figures. A survey by the Royal College of Midwives found that three-quarters of practicing midwives have contemplated leaving the profession within the past year, primarily citing staffing levels and patient safety concerns. Union representatives characterize the situation as creating unsustainable work environments where qualified practitioners experience burnout within years of beginning their careers due to insufficient colleague support, missed breaks, and unpaid overtime.
Multiple high-profile reviews of English maternity care have identified inadequate staffing as a critical safety concern. The Department of Health and Social Care countered the resignation data by highlighting that a record 25,500 full-time-equivalent midwives currently work within the NHS—2,000 more than when the government took office in July 2024. The department also noted recent policy initiatives including staff wellbeing standards, flexible working arrangements, and the creation of 1,000 additional midwifery positions supported by £10 million in funding.