The average age of care assistants and home carers, arguably the largest part of the social care workforce, has gone up in the last decade, as the sector has attracted more people aged 50 years and over and less people under the age of 25. There is some evidence from the domiciliary care sub-sector that private organisations were more successful in attracting younger people than social services departments.

Data from the statutory sector suggest that staff in children’s services tend to be younger than staff in domiciliary care for the elderly, thus reflecting the age structure of their clients. In the first group about a quarter were aged 50 years plus, compared to nearly half in the latter one. Occupational therapists also have a younger workforce.

Source: Eborall 2003a and Matthew 2001