Overview

This snapshot presents data collected from NHS trusts across England and Wales on final-year student numbers, predicted vacancies, and recent recruitment of Newly Qualified Midwives (NQMs).

This information was collected through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to all NHS Trusts in England and Wales.

The findings provide an early indication of workforce demand for September–December 2026, alongside insight into current recruitment trends.

Key Findings

• 60+ organisations responded

• 1,586 final-year students in placement

• 229 predicted vacancies (from 35 organisations)

• 27% vacancy rate (~1 vacancy per 3.6 students)

• 1,118 NQMs recruited since September 2025

• 72% recruitment rate relative to current student numbers

• 60% of roles are part-time

• 29% of roles are short-term contracts

Predicted vacancies (Sept-Dec 2026)

60 responses received in total (England and Wales)

35 organisations were able to provide vacancy forecasts

25 organisations were unable to predict vacancies

Among those that did report:

• 848 final-year students
• 229.22 predicted vacancies

This equates to a vacancy rate of 27%, or approximately one vacancy for every 3.6 students.

Only two organisations reported vacancy numbers equal to or exceeding their student numbers.

Recruitment Trends (Since Sept 2025)

Overall Recruitment

• 59 trusts responded
• 1,118.7 NQMs recruited
• Equivalent to 72% of current final-year student numbers

This provides an indication of the scale of recruitment likely to occur in the current cycle.

Contract Type

29% of roles are short-term contracts

Short-term contracts were used by 29% of trusts

In 9 trusts, at least half of roles were short-term

2 trusts reported 100% fixed-term (1-year) contracts

Full-Time vs Part-Time Roles

• 60% of roles are part-time
• 9 trusts reported recruiting exclusively to part-time roles

Interpretation

• There is a significant gap between student numbers and predicted vacancies, indicating limited availability of substantive roles.

• Recruitment patterns suggest a growing reliance on part-time and fixed-term contracts.
• The inability of many trusts to forecast vacancies highlights ongoing uncertainty in workforce planning.

Limitations

• Not all organisations were able to provide vacancy predictions

• Some figures are based on estimates or partial data

• Variability in reporting methods across trusts may affect consistency

Acknowledgement

This analysis was compiled by The Association of Radical Midwives (ARM) and Fund Future Midwives UK (FFMUK).

We kindly request that both organisations are acknowledged in any use, citation, or wider sharing of this data.