Abstract overview:
Midwifery is a unique profession within healthcare systems, providing essential and holistic care for women and newborns. Despite their critical role, midwives often encounter limited opportunities for career progression, which can negatively influence job satisfaction, professional identity, and retention. A clear understanding of the current career development landscape is essential to strengthen the midwifery workforce, promote the sustainability of the profession, and ultimately improve health outcomes.

Aims and objectives:
The aim of this study was to explore the career and development opportunities available to midwives, as reported in the scientific literature.

Method:
A scoping review of the literature published in English between 2014 and 2024 was conducted using the CINAHL, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy incorporated keywords such as ‘career choice’, ‘career mobility’, ‘professional development’, ‘career’, ‘ladder’ and ‘midwi*’, combined using Boolean operators. Predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria guided the selection of relevant studies. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the findings.

Results:
Seven studies were included. The findings highlight a lack of clearly defined career pathways for midwives, which may undermine the attractiveness and retention of the profession. Transitioning from clinical practice to academia presents challenges due to insufficient support and role ambiguity. Effective mentorship is a key facilitator for development, though its availability and quality are inconsistent. Formal leadership roles within healthcare systems as a career opportunity remain limited, indicating a need for greater representation at strategic decision-making levels.

Conclusion:
There is a critical need to establish structured and supported career development pathways for midwives across clinical, academic, and leadership domains. Implementing such strategies is essential to advance professional growth, enhance workforce satisfaction and ensure the long-term sustainability of the midwifery profession.