Aging Population Putting Caregivers In Career Crisis

While they shoulder heavy family responsibilities, most caregivers are also facing a career crisis.67% of U.S. family caregivers are struggling to balance their careers with caregiving responsibilities, a report from AARP and S&P Global reveals. 

The data, which surveyed 1,200 employees from large U.S. companies who provide at least six hours of adult care per week, shows how persistent work-life challenges are affecting caregivers every month.  

This issue not only affects individual caregivers but also has long-term implications for the U.S. economy. About 27% of working caregivers are reported to have reduced their work hours, and 16% have turned down promotions to meet their caregiving obligations.  

This balancing act is further complicated by the unpredictable nature of adult caregiving, leading many to make significant career sacrifices.  

“16% have stopped working entirely for a period of time — and 13% have changed employers — in order to meet caregiving responsibilities,” AARP reports.  

Remote workers were significantly more likely to feel penalized or discriminated against due to caregiving responsibilities, with 49% reporting such feelings compared to an average of 29% for in-office and hybrid workers combined. The report suggests this disparity may stem from challenges employers face in assessing and engaging with the work-life needs of remote employees. 

“As the backbone of America’s long-term care system, providing $600 billion every year in unpaid labor, family caregivers need and deserve greater support from their own employers,” said Susan Reinhard, Senior Vice President and Director of AARP Public Policy Institute. “As our population ages, it’s critical that employers support family caregivers in the workforce with the policies, such as paid leave, that can ease their everyday burdens.”  

In addition to paid leave, other recommendations include offering flexible work schedules, and access to support groups and financial advising resources.  

The report cites that fact that the population of individuals 65-and-older in the U.S. is projected to surpass the number of children by 2030. As the population ages, experts stress the importance of creating a workplace with policies that will provide support for caregivers will become increasingly important too.