By the Numbers: The cost of unpaid caregiving

Toronto – January 23, 2015 – A new report documents that millions of Canadian workers are juggling the demands of holding down a job, while also having to devote many more hours as informal, unpaid caregivers to an injured or infirm loved one. The number of workers facing this challenge will undoubtedly increase, as the demographic of Canadians aged 65 and older is projected to grow from 16% this year, to 28% by 2060. The study analyzed data and survey results from 2012-13.

35%
More than six million people – 35% of Canada's workforce – provide unpaid, informal care to loved ones while balancing job responsibilities.

30 + hours
One in ten informal caregivers spend 30 or more hours per week providing informal care.

200%
The number of seniors requiring care is projected to double within the next 10-15 years.

$1.3 Billion
The cost to workers of lost wages because of having to take time off because of their informal caregiver responsibilities.

1.6 million
The number of informal caregivers who took time off from work to provide care.

600,000
The number of informal caregivers who had to reduce their hours at their paid job.

390,000
The number of workers in who resigned from their jobs to provide care for a loved one.

44%
The percentage of caregivers that are aged 45-64, having to provide care for elders and children alike.

1 million
Over 1 million caregivers were older than 65 themselves – a trend that is likely to increase.

157,000
Estimates placed the reduced work effort by caregivers at 2.2 million hours per week in 2012, which is roughly the equivalent to loss of 157,000 full-time jobs.

Source: When Work and Caregiving Collide, 2015, Report from the Employer Panel for Cargeivers.