Demographics Report iMatter Survey 2025
Independent report by Webropol providing detailed information and analysis of staff experience in health and social care across Scotland, broken down by protected characteristics (as stated in Equality Act 2010). This report compiles data from the 2025 iMatter survey.
Intersectional Analysis
Overview
This section contains information on the size of various intersectional groups, by combining more than one demographic characteristic, for example, age and sex.
For each intersectional group both the number of staff identifying within this group from their iMatter survey responses and the percentage of the total responding to iMatter are shown. These percentages are therefore assumed to be indicative of the incidence of these groups across all Health and Social Care staff.
Many of the intersectional groups comprise less than 1% of the Health and Social Care staff and are therefore very much minority groups. Others, whilst still a small share of the total workforce are larger groups that can be explored in more detail.
In this analysis the following intersectional groups have been reviewed:
- Sex and ethnic group
- Sex and age
- Age and ethnicity
Intersectional Group Sizes
Note: Non-response to one or more of the relevant demographic questions means intersectional groups do not add to 100%.
Sex and Ethnicity
The largest intersectional group within the Health and Social Care workforce are those who are female and white (66%). Male and white account for 15% of staff. Of the minority intersectional groups, only female and Asian is above 1% incidence, illustrating how small each of these intersectional groups are.
|
Sex and Ethnicity |
Responses 2025 |
Percentage 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
Male and White |
18,030 |
15% |
|
Male and Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
214 |
<1% |
|
Male and Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
1,020 |
1% |
|
Male and African, Scottish African or British African |
802 |
1% |
|
Male and Caribbean or Black |
40 |
<1% |
|
Male and Other ethnic group |
273 |
<1% |
|
Female and White |
78,155 |
66% |
|
Female and Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
541 |
<1% |
|
Female and Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
2,077 |
2% |
|
Female and African, Scottish African or British African |
1,372 |
1% |
|
Female and Caribbean or Black |
99 |
<1% |
|
Female and Other ethnic group |
420 |
<1% |
Sex and Age
The largest sex and age intersectional group is females aged between 35 and 54 years who make up a third of all staff. Other age groups within females are quite evenly distributed.
Among men, again the largest cohort are those aged 35 to 54 years (8%), with similar percentages aged under 35 years or 55 years and over.
|
Sex and Age |
Responses 2025 |
Percentage 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
Male and Under 35 years |
3,983 |
3% |
|
Male and 35 – 54 years |
9,937 |
8% |
|
Male and 55 years and over |
5,122 |
4% |
|
Female and Under 35 years |
16,049 |
13% |
|
Female and 35 – 54 years |
39,330 |
33% |
|
Female and 55 years and over |
19,386 |
16% |
Age and Ethnicity
White and aged 35 to 54 years is the most prevalent group at 38% of the workforce. Under 35 years and white are 15% of staff and one in five (20%) are 55 years and over and white. All other age and ethnicity intersectional groups are 1% or less of the Health and Social Care staff.
|
Age and Ethnicity |
Responses 2025 |
Percentage 2025 |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 35 years and White |
17,797 |
15% |
|
Under 35 years and Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
212 |
<1% |
|
Under 35 years and Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
131 |
<1% |
|
Under 35 years and African, Scottish African or British African |
799 |
1% |
|
Under 35 years and Caribbean or Black |
647 |
1% |
|
Under 35 years and Other ethnic group |
35 |
<1% |
|
35 – 54 years and White |
45,638 |
38% |
|
35 – 54 years and Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
412 |
<1% |
|
35 – 54 years and Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
386 |
<1% |
|
35 – 54 years and African, Scottish African or British African |
1,677 |
1% |
|
35 – 54 years and Caribbean or Black |
1,178 |
1% |
|
35 – 54 years and Other ethnic group |
63 |
<1% |
|
55 years and over and White |
24,125 |
20% |
|
55 years and over and Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
102 |
<1% |
|
55 years and over and Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
125 |
<1% |
|
55 years and over and African, Scottish African or British African |
394 |
<1% |
|
55 years and over and Caribbean or Black |
104 |
<1% |
|
55 years and over and Other ethnic group |
24 |
<1% |
Workplace Experiences
Appendix 4 contains summary charts of Overall Experience scores for each of the Intersectional Groups referenced in this report. The Demographics 2025 Excel Datasheet contains further details of the individual iMatter scores for each of the intersectional groups.
Sex and Ethnicity
Overall experience scores shows that the pattern of females scoring higher than males is consistent across all the ethnicities, though the extent of the difference varies by ethnicity. It is African ethnicities whether male or female that score highest (8.2 and 7.8 respectively), with Asian ethnicities the next highest at 7.7 for both males and females. Mixed ethnic groups score lowest among both males and females (6.8 and 7.0 respectively) with white male scoring 6.9 and white female 7.1.
Sex and Age
Overall experience scores are higher for females under 35 and 55 years and over than they are for males in the same age groups. Females aged 55 years and over score highest of all sex and age intersectional groups (7.3).
Age and Ethnicity
Overall experience scores follow a consistent pattern across age and ethnicity intersectional groups, with Asian and African ethnicities typically scoring highest regardless of age.
Contact
Email: nationalimatterteam@gov.scot