The NHS England's Community Pharmacy Workforce Survey 2025 shows a decline in the number of pharmacists and locum pharmacists, while there has been a rise in independent prescribers and trainee pharmacy technicians.
There has been a 10 percent decrease in the number of pharmacists, with the overall headcount for 2025 declining to 25,822 from 28,763 in 2024.
There has also been a reduction in the average FTE pharmacist in each pharmacy (1.66 compared to 1.79 in 2024).
There is also a 10 percent decrease in the use of locum pharmacists.
This is despite the fact that there has been a 7 percent increase in total workforce (FTE).
This increase is driven by growth in Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (77 percent), accuracy checkers (35 percent), pharmacy technicians (32 percent), and foundation trainee pharmacists (23 percent).
The pharmacy technicians' headcount has grown to 6,943 in 2025, from 5,403 in 2024.
The number of Independent Prescribers continues to grow, with a ratio of one independent prescriber for five pharmacy premises.
The number of pharmacies have reduced marginally by 0.6 percent (10,495 compared to 10,554 in 2024).
There has been a 77 percent increase in Pre-registration Trainee Pharmacy Technicians (933 FTE).
There has been a 13 percent decline in vacancy rates for pharmacists and 1 dip in trainee dispensing assistants.
