Focus Sector

The Care Economy

Care work is essential to sustaining economies and societies, yet care workers face unique risks and challenges that require targeted solutions.

Why this matters

The Care Economy

The demand for care services is growing around the world. The care economy includes paid and unpaid work, direct and indirect care, and it is predominantly done by women and girls. Care workers in private homes can face power imbalances, particularly migrant care workers, and the isolation of working at a private home can make collective action challenging. The burden of unpaid care responsibilities most often falls on women, limiting many women’s opportunities for secure, formal employment. Yet care is central to the human experience, from childcare to disability care to elder care, and care workers deserve recognition for the value that they bring to our lives and the economy.

Key figures

2.3B

people will be in need of care by 2030.

76%

of all unpaid care work is performed by women.

Resources