Rural and island communities across Scotland are facing mounting pressures in delivering both elderly care and childcare, as ageing populations, workforce shortages and rising costs increasingly strain local services and fragile economies, according to a new report led by SRUC.
The research, undertaken as part of the Scottish Government’s Strategic Research Programme 2022–2027, highlights how demographic change is reshaping demand for care in rural and island areas at a significantly faster pace than in urban Scotland. It examines how spatial differences, workforce constraints and higher operating costs are intensifying long-standing pressures on health, social care and childcare provision.
While many older residents in rural and island communities continue working beyond the age of 65 and make important contributions to local economies, researchers caution that reliance on older workers may mask deeper structural challenges. These include declining numbers of working-age adults and a shrinking care workforce, which together are limiting the capacity of communities to meet care needs locally.
Professor Steven Thomson, lead author of the report, said rural and island areas are facing a 'double challenge'.
“Rising demand for elderly care is occurring alongside persistent barriers to accessing affordable childcare,” he said.
“Both are essential to sustaining local workforces and economic activity, yet both are becoming harder to deliver in areas facing ageing populations, recruitment difficulties and higher operating costs.”
The report finds that in some communities a declining care-home footprint, combined with difficulties recruiting health and social care staff, means older residents are increasingly reliant on informal family or community support. This often places additional pressure on households already coping with high living costs, poor transport links and limited access to services.
At the same time, limited and costly childcare provision is restricting opportunities for younger families – particularly women – to participate fully in the labour market. Researchers warn these barriers reinforce population decline and undermine efforts to attract and retain working-age residents, posing long-term risks to economic sustainability.
Child poverty remains a serious concern, with one in five children in rural Scotland living in relative poverty. Families often face reduced access to childcare, healthcare and transport, compounding financial pressures and narrowing employment options. For older residents, higher fuel costs, poorer housing energy efficiency and reduced service availability further exacerbate inequality and vulnerability.
The findings underline the importance of a community-oriented approach to health, social care and childcare – one that reflects rural geography, dispersed populations and the higher costs of service delivery. The report also links care provision directly to economic outcomes, noting that healthy life expectancy, the ability to remain economically active in later life and access to childcare are all critical to sustaining rural and island economies.
Based on the evidence, researchers call for co-ordinated, long-term investment that addresses care provision alongside housing, transport, digital connectivity and workforce development. Priority actions include strengthening community-based care services, tackling workforce shortages through targeted recruitment and housing support, improving conditions for families and younger workers, and ensuring infrastructure and decarbonisation policies reflect rural and island realities.
The research was led by Professor Steven Thomson alongside a multi-disciplinary SRUC team. Further analysis drawing on new census data will be published over the coming year, covering demography, migration, housing, labour markets and health.
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