Today, the social care sector is among the biggest in Europe. Together with health, it employs 10% of the EU's working population and between 1995 and 2001.  According to the European Commission, it accounted for 18% of all jobs created. Yet care work tends to be poorly paid and perhaps poorly regarded.

Demographic projections mean that this is a sector with significant potential to deliver growth and jobs in the next decade. The OECD notes that the long-term care sector today accounts for 1% of GDP, but is projected to account for between 2 and 4% by 2050. This lies principally with the rising number of people over 80 years old which is set to rise from 4% (2005) to 11-12% by 2050.

Competent, caring and compassionate individuals are needed for care work, both waged 'formal' and unwaged 'informal'. Many will be drawn into caring roles, perhaps without recognising it, as a partner or parent lose their independence. This will also give a wider number of people closer insights into the care sector and may make them ask how they will be looked after in old age.

People’s concerns about care in old age may be about its affordability, the impact of their dependence on their partner and family, especially in the case of dementia, but also about who will be helping them to get up and get dressed, to eat and wash every day. Beyond these simple daily activities, people may be concerned about how they continue to be included in social and family life, to see family and friends and keep doing the things they enjoy for as long as possible.

Through a mix of international studies, national policy and local practice, ESN’s forthcoming seminar will tackle some of the above questions with its members and other important stakeholders. It will welcome around thirty ESN members from all across Europe and a similar number of Greek delegates, and will be organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Zografou, the Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDKE) and the Municipality of Gerakas.

Seminar papers and presentations will be featured in the ESN newsletter in May.

You can contact Stephen Barnett or David Scurr from the ESN secretariat via firstname.lastname@esn-eu.org if you have examples of good practice in training, recruitment, staff management and other skills/workforce issues.
 

To read more on this issue:

European Commission (2009), Green Paper on the European Workforce for Health. Read ESN response to Commission's paper: Green Paper on the European Workforce for Health

Rie Fujisawa and Francesca Colombo, OECD (2009), The Long-Term Care Workforce: Overview And Strategies To Adapt Supply To A Growing Demand

Cedefop (2008/09) resources on future skills needs for health care