Recognizing the Hard Labor of Caregivers and Older Adults

Labor Day is a national holiday dedicated to honoring the contributions of American workers. While many people think of offices, construction sites, and factories, it is also important to remember the millions of family caregivers and older adults whose dedication keeps households, communities, and even the broader economy running strong. Here’s a list of important statistics that highlight the scope of their contributions.

1. Family caregivers provide billions of hours of unpaid labor

Family caregivers in the United States provide about 36 billion hours of unpaid care each year, with an estimated economic value of $600 billion.

This includes managing medications, assisting with meals, transportation, and financial support.

2. The average caregiver provides more than 27 hours each week

On average, caregivers spend 27.3 hours per week caring for a loved one—nearly the equivalent of a part-time job.

Many provide even more, sometimes 41 or more hours weekly, which comes at the expense of sleep, social activities, and personal health.

3. Most caregivers also hold a paying job Caregiving is not a separate role for many. It's in addition to employment. About 70 percent of caregivers ages 18 to 64 also hold a paid job, while a smaller but significant share of caregivers age 65 and older remain in the workforce.

Altogether, around 60 percent of all caregivers are also employed, working an average of 35.6 hours per week on top of their caregiving duties. 4. Many caregivers are forced to work more

Because of the financial pressures of caregiving, some are compelled to take on additional hours, find a second job, or delay retirement. For others, retirement becomes impossible. This added strain underscores the economic impact caregiving has on families.

5. Older adults strengthen today’s workforce

Older adults who remain in the workforce make valuable contributions. They retain critical business knowledge and networks, tend to stay longer in jobs, helping reduce turnover, and often serve as mentors to younger colleagues.

In 2014, the median job tenure for workers ages 55 to 64 was 10.4 years, more than three times longer than the 3.0 years for workers ages 25 to 34. Their experience and stability help create stronger, multigenerational workplaces.

Labor Day is not just about celebrating paid work. It is about honoring the commitment, effort, and resilience of all who contribute to the well-being of society. Caregivers and older adults are vital to that picture. Recognizing their dedication helps remind us that caregiving and lifelong work are cornerstones of strong families and strong communities.

---

This article was made by  Elder Love USA.

As the only nonprofit agency in California offering home care services, we are dedicated to providing compassionate affordable in-home care.  

All caregivers undergo thorough background checks and training with certification.  

Our rates are lower than other providers thanks to partnerships, donations, grants, and revenue from our cleaning program.  

Our caregivers can assist with personal care, shopping, cooking, transportation, housekeeping, and case management.  

We proudly serve Riverside County, CA, San Diego County, CA, San Bernardino County, CA, Orange County, CA, Imperial County, CA, and Phoenix, AZ. 

If you’d like to learn more about how our services can benefit you or your loved one, contact us today.

Learn More