Hidden Truths: 12 Things Most People Haven't Heard About Caregiving in America

Hidden Truths: 12 Things Most People Haven't Heard About Caregiving in America

By Mark Fukae Director of Advocacy | Professionals Who Care

Welcome to "Hidden Truths," where we illuminate the realities faced by professionals who are also caregivers. Our goal is to shed light on the often-invisible challenges and incredible strengths of this significant population within our workforce. Employed caregivers often navigate their dual roles in silence, fearing stigma and discrimination, which keeps their experiences hidden from public view.

We're peeling back the layers to reveal 12 critical truths about caregiving in America. Let's start with the fundamental reality of just how many people are balancing work and care, and look at why this is such a prevalent, yet hidden, phenomenon.

#1 of 12: High Prevalence of Employed Caregivers – A Consequence of Undervalued Care

It's a fact: our society relies profoundly on informal care provided by family and friends. What many don't realize is the sheer scale of caregivers who are also holding down jobs. But to truly understand why this number is so high, it's helpful to look through the lens of thinkers like Riane Eisler and her work on caring economics.

Eisler's research highlights how traditional economic systems often fail to value, measure, or adequately support the essential work of caring for people – raising children, supporting elders, assisting those with disabilities. This "care economy," largely performed outside of traditional paid markets, is critical for human well-being and societal functioning, yet it remains systemically undervalued.

This devaluing has real consequences. It leads to insufficient investment in affordable, accessible, high-quality formal care options like childcare and eldercare. When these services are unavailable or prohibitively expensive, families are often left with no choice but to step in as unpaid caregivers.

And here's where the prevalence of employed caregivers comes into sharp focus: Because people still need to earn a living to support themselves and their families (including those they care for), millions must balance their responsibilities in the paid workforce with their essential, unpaid duties in the care economy.

Consider these numbers:

• There are an estimated 53 million informal caregivers across the United States – people providing unpaid support.

• A substantial 61% of these informal caregivers are active in the workforce, working either full-time or part-time.

• This translates to approximately 32.3 million employed caregivers in the U.S.

This means over 32 million professionals are navigating this inherent conflict between an economy that demands their full-time market participation and a society that relies on their unpaid care labor, often without providing adequate support structures in either realm.

Looking closer, we also see a significant gender split, which Eisler's work helps explain through the historical assignment of care roles:

• Approximately 60% of employed caregivers are women.

• About 40% of employed caregivers are men.

The disproportionate number of women in caregiving roles is deeply tied to societal expectations that have historically placed the primary responsibility for care on women. When combined with the economic necessity or desire for women to be in the paid workforce, this results in a significant population of female employed caregivers who often bear the heaviest burden of this dual role. While millions of men are also vital caregivers, the statistics reveal how the systemic devaluing of care work intersects with gender to impact women disproportionately.

This vast population of working caregivers is incredibly diverse, providing care across a spectrum of needs, durations, and tasks. Yet, despite their prevalence and the critical role they play both at home and in the economy, employed caregivers often operate in the shadows. The fear of stigma, discrimination, and a lack of understanding from employers and colleagues, rooted in this societal devaluing of care, leads many to hide their caregiving status. This invisibility prevents workplaces from recognizing their needs and leveraging their strengths, contributing to the "silent crisis" Professionals Who Care aims to address.

Understanding the high prevalence of employed caregivers, and the systemic economic and social factors (like those highlighted by Riane Eisler) that contribute to it, is the essential first step toward building truly inclusive workplaces. It underscores the urgent need for recognition, support, and policy changes like those we are advocating for with the Colorado CARE Act and the Federal CARE Act.

This is just the first hidden truth. Join us as we continue this series, bringing to light the realities faced by millions of your colleagues, friends, and family members.

Join the Movement - Your Voice Matters!

By revealing the high prevalence of employed caregivers and the systemic reasons behind it, this blog demonstrates the critical need for legislation like the Colorado CARE Act to support this vital, often hidden, population.

Join us at Professionals Who Care. Follow our page and engage with our content. Your support is crucial for our advocacy efforts. Please also sign my petition on Change.org at the link here: Empower Working Caregivers: Enact Federal & Colorado CARE Act to Amend ADA & CADA to show your support for legislative change. Finally, please share this article widely with your network, especially within the small business community.

Kindly,

Mark Fukae Director of Advocacy | Professionals Who Care