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.
Demographics Across Staff Groupings
The iMatter questionnaire asks staff whether they are employed by NHSScotland or by the Local Authority and within those employers which staff groupings they work for (see Appendix 1 for details.
NHSScotland and Local Authority Staff
86% staff taking part in iMatter say they are NHSScotland staff and 14% are Local Authority staff:
- Within NHSScotland, Nursing and Midwifery is the largest group, followed by Administration and Allied Health Professions.
- Among Local Authority staff, Adult Services is the largest group, followed by Older People Services and Children’s Services.
The overall demographic profile between NHSScotland and Local Authority staff is very similar. The exception is age where 33% of Local Authority staff are aged over 55 years, compared to 25% of NHSScotland staff.
Comparison to published Turas data shows a similar profile among staff taking part in iMatter and answering the demographic questions and those providing information for Turas. iMatter respondents are slightly older, less likely to have a religion and a slightly greater proportion are white Scottish. Only 2% of those providing information for Turas say they are disabled (the question may differ from that asked in iMatter).
|
What was your age at your last birthday? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 25 years |
3% |
3% |
|
25-34 years |
19% |
14% |
|
35-44 years |
26% |
22% |
|
45-54 years |
27% |
28% |
|
55-64 years |
23% |
30% |
|
65+ years |
2% |
3% |
|
What is your sex? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Male |
20% |
18% |
|
Female |
80% |
82% |
|
Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Straight/Heterosexual |
94% |
95% |
|
Gay or Lesbian |
3% |
3% |
|
Bisexual |
2% |
1% |
|
Prefer to self-describe |
1% |
1% |
|
Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Yes, I identify as transgender |
<1% |
<1% |
|
Have you been on maternity/parental or shared parental leave in the past 12 months? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Yes |
4% |
2% |
|
What is your legal marital or registered civil partnership status? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Married |
57% |
51% |
|
Never married and never in civil partnership |
30% |
31% |
|
Divorced / dissolved |
8% |
11% |
|
Separated |
2% |
3% |
|
Widowed / surviving partner from civil partnership |
1% |
2% |
|
In a registered civil partnership |
1% |
1% |
|
Ethnicity |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
White |
93% |
95% |
|
Mixed or multiple ethnic groups |
1% |
1% |
|
Asian, Scottish Asian or British Asian |
3% |
1% |
|
African, Scottish African or British African |
2% |
3% |
|
Caribbean or Black |
<1% |
<1% |
|
Other ethnic group |
1% |
<1% |
|
Do you consider yourself to be disabled within the definition of the Equality Act 2010? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
Yes |
8% |
10% |
|
What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? |
NHSScotland |
Local Authority |
|---|---|---|
|
None |
57% |
57% |
|
Church of Scotland |
19% |
19% |
|
Roman Catholic |
15% |
17% |
|
Other Christian |
6% |
4% |
|
Other |
3% |
3% |
Contact
Email: nationalimatterteam@gov.scot