Early-career clinical academic numbers fall sharply as workforce pipeline faces mounting challenges

The number of clinical academics in medicine aged under 36 has fallen by 25% in a single year, raising concerns about the sustainability of the future clinical academic workforce.

New data from the Medical Schools Council show that the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of clinical academics under the age of 36 fell from 140 in 2024 to just 105 in 2025. Although the overall number of clinical academics increased slightly in 2025, growth has not kept pace with NHS workforce expansion. This reflects a broader decline in the relative position of clinical academics within the medical workforce. Despite increases in the wider consultant workforce, the proportion of consultants working as clinical academics has fallen to 3.2% in 2025, continuing a long-term decline from 4.7% in 2009.

Growth in the clinical academic workforce is increasingly being driven by senior academics, while the pipeline of future researchers is under increasing pressure. The data raise concerns about the future capacity of the UK’s research and innovation workforce as the clinical academic population continues to age. More than one-third (36.4%) of clinical academic FTE is now accounted for by individuals aged over 55, while the proportion of FTE held by professors has increased from 63.7% in 2024 to 65.5% in 2025.

Recognising the need for greater clarity and support for those considering a career in clinical academia, stakeholders across the sector recently launched the Clinical Academic Training & Careers Hub (CATCH). The hub helps future academics navigate training pathways and access advice from clinical academics at different stages of their careers.

Despite these challenges, there are encouraging signs within the 2025 data. The overall clinical academic workforce grew to 3,105 FTE, representing a small increase on 2024, while several regions and devolved nations have seen substantial growth in clinical academic capacity over the past decade. Less-than-full-time working has reached its highest recorded level, suggesting increasing flexibility within academic careers, while the proportion of women in senior academic roles continues to rise gradually. Anaesthetics also recorded its highest proportion of clinical academics since 2009, demonstrating that sustained investment and support can strengthen academic capacity within individual specialties.

Other key findings include:

• Clinical academics account for just 0.9% of the medical workforce below consultant level, unchanged from 2024 but down from a peak of 1.5% in 2015.
• GP clinical academics represent 0.7% of the GP workforce, a slight decrease from 2024, although remaining above pre-pandemic levels.
• The number of Asian clinical academics increased by more than 50 FTE (+10.4%) compared with 2024, while Black clinical academics continue to represent just 1% of the workforce.
• The proportion of clinical academics holding a Clinical Excellence Award (CEA) continued to fall, from 28.5% in 2024 to 27.7% in 2025, compared with 55.3% in 2009.
• Among senior lecturers and readers, the proportion holding a CEA fell from 15.8% to 13.4% in a single year.
• Long-term declines in the proportion of clinical academics continue across several major specialties, including:
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology (1.7%, down from 3.5% in 2006)
  • Paediatrics (2.6%, down from 5.3% in 2006)
  • Pathology (2.2%, down from 6.1% in 2006)
  • Physician specialties (4.7%, down from 7.7% in 2006)
  • Psychiatry (2.2%, down from 3.9% in 2006)
  • Surgery (1.2%, down from 2.3% in 2006)
• Clinical academic capacity has grown substantially across the devolved nations over the past decade, with increases of 34.1% in Scotland, 33.3% in Northern Ireland and 24.1% in Wales.
• The largest regional increases in England since 2016 were seen in Kent, Surrey and Sussex (+233%), the North West (+49.1%), the North East (+34.6%) and the East Midlands (+25%).

Dr Katie Petty-Saphon, Chief Executive of the Medical Schools Council, said:

“The Medical Schools Council has been collecting data on clinical academic numbers since 2003, and while we have seen some positive developments, one consistent challenge remains. The number of clinical academics retiring continues to outpace those entering the profession.

“Seeing a 25% fall in the number of early-career clinical academics in just 12 months is therefore deeply concerning. We have listened to aspiring clinical academics about the barriers they face and we now need to focus on removing those barriers and ensuring clinical academia is seen as an attractive and fulfilling career option. Too often, talented clinicians face bottlenecks at the start of their academic careers, whether through unclear training routes, limited access to research experience or challenges securing protected research time. We need clearer and simpler pathways that provide the flexibility early-career clinicians need, while ensuring there are sufficient opportunities to support people as they develop.”

View the staffing levels of medical clinical academics.