Spain's Health Ministry Reports About 168,000 Nursing Assistants, Urges Staffing Reforms

The Ministry of Health's 2025 report on auxiliary nursing care technicians (TCAE) in Spain estimates a workforce of roughly 168,000, with more than 136,000 employed in the National Health System. Nine out of ten TCAE are women and the average age is 47.

The study highlights severe staffing shortages: only about a quarter of respondents say there are enough colleagues to ensure quality care, while three‑quarters report that limited staffing increases workload and leads to interrupted care. High workloads are linked to chronic fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety and depression. The CSIF union calls for urgent measures, including revised staffing ratios that consider patient dependency and complexity, improved working conditions, and a new higher‑degree training programme.

The report also notes an aging population and rising chronicity, which raise care demands. A lack of a unified, up‑to‑date registry hampers workforce planning and retirement forecasting. Officials stress that the data should be interpreted cautiously, but it underscores the need for generational renewal and better recognition of TCAE contributions.