Reflecting on this year's State of the adult social care sector and workforce report

Professor Oonagh Smyth, CBE, Chief Executive at Skills for Care, discusses the findings of out recent annual workforce report and thanks those care providers who make the report possible.

Every year, the publication of our ‘State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report gives us an opportunity to examine where the sector is, how it’s changing, and what that means for the people who draw on care and support, as well as those who provide it.

There is much to be encouraged by in this year’s report. The adult social care workforce has grown for the fourth consecutive year, vacancy rates have fallen, and there are clear signs of increasing workforce stability across many parts of the sector.

One of the strongest messages from this year's report is something many of us have known for a long time: investing in people works.

Our analysis found that employers who combine competitive pay, guaranteed hours, training, qualifications and full-time employment opportunities are far more likely to retain their care workers. We also found that better workforce conditions and development opportunities are associated with stronger CQC ratings.

For me, that is one of the most important findings in the report. It reinforces the fact that workforce investment is not a separate issue from quality. They are deeply connected. When people feel valued, supported and able to develop their careers, they are more likely to stay, and the people they support benefit from more consistent, high-quality care.

The report also highlights the vital role of leadership. We found that care worker turnover falls as registered manager experience increases, demonstrating the value of helping managers build long-term careers in the sector. Strong leadership creates stable teams, positive workplace cultures and better outcomes for people who draw on care and support.

At the same time, the findings remind us that significant challenges remain. Workforce growth is slowing, international recruitment has reduced, and young people continue to be underrepresented in adult social care. As we look ahead to rising demand for care and support, attracting and retaining the next generation of professionals will be essential.

That matters now more than ever. Adult social care is at the centre of national conversations about reform, with growing political focus on the future of care services and the workforce needed to deliver them. For me, this year's report underlines a simple truth: there can be no sustainable reform of social care without a sustainable, skilled and valued workforce.

This feels like a defining moment for our sector. Ambitions for a National Care Service, greater recognition for care workers and stronger integration across health and care services all point to a future in which social care has an even more prominent role to play. But achieving that ambition will depend on having the workforce capacity, capability and support needed to make it a reality.

I was also struck by the growing evidence of the contribution social care makes to the wider health and care system. This year, for the first time, we have included data on delegated healthcare activities, showing just how many care workers are supporting people with increasingly complex needs. It is a powerful reminder that social care is not operating on the sidelines. It is a vital part of helping people live with choice, independence and dignity, while supporting wider health services.

The report is not simply a snapshot of today's workforce. It’s a tool for understanding what comes next. The evidence helps us think about the future models of care we want to see, the people and skills needed to deliver them, and the workforce infrastructure required to support long-term reform. Alongside the sector-owned Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy, it provides an important foundation for workforce planning, investment and decision-making across the sector.

As always, none of this insight would be possible without the thousands of employers who share their workforce data through the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) and I want to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who contributes.

Your data helps build a more accurate picture of the sector and strengthens the evidence available to policymakers and sector leaders. The report is only as strong as the data that underpins it. By sharing your data, you’re helping to create one of the most comprehensive workforce datasets of its kind, ensuring decisions about the future of adult social care are grounded in robust evidence and real-world experience.

What gives me confidence is that we have a sector that’s committed to improvement and prepared to work together to meet the challenges ahead. This report shows where progress is being made, where further action is needed, and where investment can have the greatest impact.

The task ahead is not simply to fill vacancies. It is to build a workforce that people choose to join, develop within and stay in throughout their careers. The evidence in this report, combined with the insight and experience of employers across the country, can help inform the choices that now need to be made about the future of adult social care.

By continuing to work together across the sector, with partners in government and beyond, we can build a stronger, more sustainable workforce. Ultimately, that is how we will ensure people who draw on care and support can live the lives they want, with access to high-quality care, support, choice and independence whenever and wherever they need it.

Share your insights and help shape the future of social care by signing up for an ASC-WDS account.

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