14/10/2026
23,046 NHS nursing vacancies, yet newly qualified nurses can’t find their first job. 🤔 New RCN data shows only 26% of Band 5 posts are full-time, permanent and open to new graduates. This article explores why this is the case, how it is likely to impact nursing supply in 3-5 years' time and why employers can leverage this situation to create a competitive advantage. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/23046-nursing-vacancies-yet-newly-qualified-nurses-cant-sarah-knowles-3sare
There were 23,046 registered nursing vacancies in the NHS at the end of June 2026. At the same time, newly qualified nurses are reporting real difficulty finding their first post.