Women are significantly underrepresented in adult social care board-level roles despite making up the vast majority of the workforce, a Care England report has revealed.
The report, The Overlooked Majority, finds that women account for 78 per cent of the adult social care workforce in England, yet hold well under half (41 per cent) of board positions.
The findings, based on 12 interviews with senior leaders and 157 survey responses, also show barriers to progression in the sector are not explicitly recognised as gender-related by those experiencing them. Dubbed a “recognition gap”, the report found that women initially report no gender-related issues, but later describe challenges such as unequal access to networks, assumptions about flexibility and commitment, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid caring responsibilities — all of which have a gendered dimension.
The report also highlights wider structural issues, including the historic perception of care as “women’s work”, which it argues continues to suppress both status and pay across the sector.
Care England policy board member and Elizabeth Finn Homes chief executive Dr Olivia Curno said the sector must confront how care work is perceived and valued. “For too long, social care has depended on the dedication of women while failing to properly value the work itself,” she said.
“We must recognise care as skilled, essential work deserving of investment and ambition.”
Care England chief executive Professor Martin Green OBE said the findings expose a challenge “hidden in plain sight”.
“If we are serious about building a sustainable future for social care, we must ensure women have every opportunity to progress, lead and shape the sector they have done so much to build,” he added.
Care England is calling on providers to strengthen leadership pathways, embed inclusive workplace cultures, and better support staff with caring responsibilities. At a national level, it urges government action on childcare affordability, pay transparency, and a coordinated effort to challenge gender norms in care.
The report concludes that addressing these barriers will be critical to securing the long-term sustainability and leadership pipeline of the sector.
