The Swedish welfare state has been characterised since the 1960s by the goal to combining both a high level of social and gender equality. Welfare state expansion created a stable labour market for the predominantly female care workers and thus emanating the possibility of professionalising the activity. Recent developments question this goal. An increasing professionalisation is accompagnied by an increase of social and gender inequality and questions thus a fundamental pillar of the Swedish welfare system. In Germany, the expansion of the social services under the premises of cost limitations impedes the establishment of a regulated labour market area and the professionalisation of the care occupation. From a social-political perspective, social distinctions in the group of the carers and the care receivers are enhanced.