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.
Demographic Profile
Overview of Demographic Profile of Staff
Note: Percentages shown are based on all staff responding to iMatter and therefore includes non-response percentages for each question.
Comparisons are made to HM Revenue and Customs and Scottish Census 2022 data on the Scottish and UK workforce[1] and to the wider population, again through the Scottish Census 2022. As the way in which the data is analysed in the various data sets, comparisons are typically indicative rather than directly comparable.
- There are staff from across the age spectrum, with the most prevalent age group being 45 – 54 years (22% of staff). This profile is older than the overall UK workforce where 13% are under 25 years, compared to 3% of Health and Social Care staff.
- Almost three-quarters of staff working in Health and Social Care who answered the sex question in iMatter are female (73%) and less than one in five (18%) are male. This contrasts to the total UK workforce in which 51% are female.
- 84% of those responding to iMatter identified as as heterosexual/straight, with small minorities describing themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or self-describe. In the recalculated TURAS data, 82% of NHSScotland staff describe themselves as heterosexual/straight. Across the Scottish population 4% describe say they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or self-describe.
- Less than 1% of staff taking part in iMatter consider themselves as Trans or with a Trans history. This is in line with the Scottish Census 2022[2] that recorded 0.44% of the population as trans or with a trans history. Recalculated TURAS data shows 0.2% of NHSScotland staff to be Trans or have a Trans history.
- 3% of staff have taken maternity/paternity leave in the preceding 12 months.
- 50% of staff are married or in a civil partnership, while 26% have never been married or in a civil partnership.
- 7% of staff responding to iMatter identified themselves as disabled under the Equality Act definition. This is a lower percentage than the 27% reported for the wider population[3] but higher than the recalculated TURAS data (3%). Health conditions experienced include ones affecting both physical and/or mental health.
- Over half of staff say they have no religion. At 51% this is similar to the Scottish population[4] , but higher than the recalculated TURAS data (42%). Church of Scotland and Roman Catholic are the two most prevalent religions.
- White ethnic groups represent the largest ethnic category (84%) and within this category, 84% identified as Scottish and 9% are ‘Other British White’. This profile is broadly in line with the Scottish population. In recalculated TURAS data, 83% of NHSScotland staff are from white ethnic groups.
|
What was your age at your last birthday? |
Percentage[5] |
|---|---|
|
Under 25 years |
3% |
|
25-34 years |
15% |
|
35-44 years |
20% |
|
45-54 years |
22% |
|
55-64 years |
19% |
|
65+ years |
2% |
|
Non-response |
19% |
|
What is your sex? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Male |
18% |
|
Female |
73% |
|
Non-response |
10% |
|
Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Straight/Heterosexual |
84% |
|
Gay or Lesbian |
2% |
|
Bisexual |
2% |
|
Prefer to self-describe[6] |
1% |
|
Non-response |
11% |
|
Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Yes, I identify as transgender[7] |
<1% |
|
No, I do not identify as transgender |
90% |
|
Non-response |
10% |
|
Have you been on maternity/parental or shared parental leave in the past 12 months? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Yes |
3% |
|
No |
87% |
|
Non-response |
10% |
|
What is your legal marital or registered civil partnership status? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Married |
49% |
|
Never married and never in civil partnership |
26% |
|
Divorced / dissolved |
8% |
|
Separated |
2% |
|
Widowed / surviving partner from civil partnership |
1% |
|
In a registered civil partnership |
1% |
|
Non-response |
12% |
|
Do you consider yourself to be disabled within the definition of the Equality Act 2010? |
Percentage[8] |
|---|---|
|
Yes |
7% |
|
No |
84% |
|
Non-response |
9% |
|
Do you have any of the following, which have lasted, or are expected to last, at least 12 months?[9] |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Long-term illness, disease or condition (a condition, not listed above, that you may have for life, which may be managed with treatment or medication) |
12% |
|
Mental health condition (a condition that affects your emotional, physical and mental wellbeing) |
7% |
|
Deafness or partial hearing loss |
3% |
|
Physical disability (a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting or carrying) |
3% |
|
Other condition |
3% |
|
Learning difficulty (a specific learning condition that affects the way you learn and process information) |
2% |
|
Blindness or partial sight loss |
1% |
|
Learning disability (a condition that you have had since childhood that affects the way you learn, understand information and communicate) |
1% |
|
Full or partial loss of voice or difficulty speaking (a condition which requires you to use equipment to speak) |
<1% |
|
Developmental disorder (a condition that you have had since childhood which affects motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills, and speech and language) |
1% |
|
No Condition |
55% |
|
What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? |
Percentage |
|---|---|
|
None |
51% |
|
Church of Scotland |
17% |
|
Roman Catholic |
14% |
|
Other Christian |
5% |
|
Muslim |
1% |
|
Hindu |
1% |
|
Buddhist |
<1% |
|
Sikh |
<1% |
|
Jewish |
<1% |
|
Pagan |
<1% |
|
Another religion or body[10] |
1% |
|
Non-response |
11% |
|
What is your ethnic group? |
Percentage[11] |
|---|---|
|
White |
84% |
|
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
1% |
|
Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
3% |
|
African, Scottish African or British African |
2% |
|
Caribbean or Black |
<1% |
|
Another ethnic group |
1% |
|
Non-response |
10% |
|
Within White |
Percentage within White |
|---|---|
|
Scottish |
84% |
|
Other British |
9% |
|
Irish |
2% |
|
Polish |
1% |
|
Another white ethnic group[12] |
2% |
|
Non-response |
2% |
|
Within Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
Percentage within Asian |
|---|---|
|
Pakistani, Scottish Pakistani or British Pakistani |
17% |
|
Indian, Scottish Indian or British Indian |
45% |
|
Bangladeshi, Scottish Bangladeshi or British Bangladeshi |
2% |
|
Chinese, Scottish Chinese or British Chinese |
10% |
|
Other[13] |
21% |
|
Non-response |
5% |
|
Within Another ethnic group |
Percentage within Other |
|---|---|
|
Arab, Scottish Arab or British Arab |
22% |
|
Other[14] |
60% |
|
Non-response |
18% |
Trend in Demographic Data
Comparisons have been made over the past 5 years[15] (2021 to 2025 inclusive) and there is very little change overall.
The vast majority of demographic attributes have either not changed over this period of time or have moved by only plus or minus one percentage point. For reference all information is contained in the Demographics 2025 Excel Data File. The demographic characteristics that have moved the most are:
- The percentage of staff who are aged 45 – 54 years is down 5 pps (percentage points) from 2021 to 22% in 2025 and the percentage aged 55-64 years is down 2 pps to 19% from 21%. The percentage not answering this question has increased from 11% to 19% over the 5 years, which suggests the age of staff overall has lowered between 2021 and 2025.
- The percentage of staff who are married has decreased by 3 pps from 52% to 49% over the 5 years.
- The percentage of staff who are disabled under the definition of the Equality Act 2010 has increased by 2 pps from 5% in 2021 to 7% in 2025.
- The proportion of staff who are Church of Scotland has declined by 4 pps from 21% in 2021 to 17% in 2025.
- Overall, there is a 3 pps drop in the percentage of staff who are from a white ethnic group from 90% to 84%, though the percentage not answering this question has increased from 7% to 10% over the 5 years.
Demographic profile overview by Board
The demographic profile of staff across the Geographic Boards is generally quite similar, while there are greater differences across the National Boards.
- All Geographic Boards are between 79% and 85% female (based on those answering the question). All National Boards have a lower percentage of female staff with Ambulance Service the lowest at 46%. The State Hospital (60%) National Services Scotland (63%) and Public Health Scotland (66%) also have lower proportions of females.
- NHS 24 has the largest proportion of staff under the age of 35 years and NHS Education for Scotland the smallest proportion. Among the Geographic Boards, NHS Highland has the oldest staff profile and NHS Lothian the youngest.
- The proportion having taken maternity/paternity leave is quite consistent across all Boards, ranging from 2% to 5%.
- Public Health Scotland and NHS 24 have the highest incidence of staff who are gay/lesbian/bisexual/self-describe, at 13% and 12% respectively.
- Graph following shows the percentage of staff in each Board who consider themselves disabled within the definition of the Equality Act 2010. NHS 24 has the highest proportion at 18%, more than twice the level across all of health and Social Care. Public Health Scotland and Healthcare Improvement Scotland also have a higher proportion of disabled staff (13% and 12% respectively). All Geographic Boards have between 6% and 9% of staff who are disabled._g??
disability and long term health condition reporting rates across NHS Boards
Contact
Email: nationalimatterteam@gov.scot