The European Outlook on Care Report, developed within the Erasmus+ CARES project, highlights the mounting strain on care systems throughout the European Union due to the rapid ageing of the population. With the proportion of citizens aged 65 and over steadily rising — reaching 21.1% in the EU by 2022, with projections exceeding 30% by 2050 — the sustainability of social care services has become a central concern. In this article, we summarise the main take-aways of the European Outlook on Care Report.
The report emphasises the urgent need to adapt the social care infrastructure to address the changing requirements needs of ageing populations and care providers. It is estimated that 24 million people in the EU currently require long-term care, a figure expected to rise to 33 million by 2050. This includes individuals in institutional care, at-home recipients, and a significant proportion of people receiving no formal support. Informal care remains a cornerstone of the system, with around 52 million Europeans providing regular care to relatives or friends, most of whom are women. However, this system is becoming increasingly fragile due to ageing caregivers, gender inequality and migration trends depleting the available workforce.
The care workforce itself is in crisis. Around 12 million people are employed in the care sector across the EU, 90% of whom are women. Many of these individuals face low wages, temporary or undeclared work, and a high risk of burnout — factors that compromise both job quality and care standards. The European Commission’s initiatives, such as the European Care Strategy, the Green Paper on Ageing, and the Pact for Skills, aim to address these issues by promoting access to high-quality care, supporting professional development, and fostering gender equality within the sector.
The care system continues to struggle with limited resources and unequal access, particularly in rural areas. National strategies have yet to match the ambition of EU-level frameworks, highlighting the need for stronger alignment with European EU recommendations.
While EU initiatives provide a solid foundation for reform, the report concludes that member states must intensify their national efforts to invest in care infrastructure, support caregivers, and ensure equitable access to services. The sustainability of care depends not only on demographic adaptation, but also on strategic, inclusive policymaking and the professionalisation of the care workforce.
The latest news about the CARES project will be available on the platforms of the consortium members: CLNR (Center for Not-for-profit Law) from Romania, the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection, Sector 6 (DGASPC S6 Bucharest), the Welfare Society Institute (WSI) from Lithuania, the Cooperativa Sociale Labor from Italy, and HÉTFA Research Institute from Hungary.
