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Approximately 37.1 million people, or 13.9 percent of the U.S. civilian population age 15 and older, provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–2022. Individuals ages 45 to 54 (20.0 percent) and 55 to 64 (21.2 percent) were the most likely to provide eldercare, followed by those ages 65 and over (14.8 percent). Among people age 15 and older, 16.0 percent of women and 11.7 percent of men were eldercare providers.
| Age | Total, men and women | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total, all ages |
13.9 | 11.7 | 16.0 |
|
15 to 24 years |
8.6 | 9.3 | 8.0 |
|
25 to 34 years |
7.3 | 6.4 | 8.1 |
|
35 to 44 years |
11.9 | 10.1 | 13.6 |
|
45 to 54 years |
20.0 | 15.1 | 24.7 |
|
55 to 64 years |
21.2 | 18.6 | 23.7 |
|
65 years and older |
14.8 | 11.5 | 17.6 |
On an average day, 27.5 percent of eldercare providers engaged in eldercare. Compared with those in other age groups, eldercare providers who were age 65 and older were the most likely to provide care on a given day (38.4 percent).
| Characteristic | Percent |
|---|---|
|
Total, 15 years and over |
27.5 |
|
Age |
|
|
15 to 24 years |
15.4 |
|
25 to 34 years |
22.2 |
|
35 to 44 years |
20.6 |
|
45 to 54 years |
24.2 |
|
55 to 64 years |
30.9 |
|
65 years and older |
38.4 |
|
Sex |
|
|
Men |
26.9 |
|
Women |
27.8 |
|
Employment status |
|
|
Employed |
22.0 |
|
Not employed |
36.1 |
|
Note: Persons who are not employed include those classified as unemployed as well as those classified as not in the labor force. |
|
Among eldercare providers, there was little difference between the share of men and women who provided eldercare on a given day (26.9 percent and 27.8 percent, respectively). In 2021–2022, eldercare providers who were not employed were more likely to provide care on a given day than eldercare providers who were employed (36.1 percent, compared with 22.0 percent).
These data are from the American Time Use Survey. Eldercare providers are people who provide unpaid care to someone age 65 and older who needs help because of a condition related to aging. For more information, see "Unpaid Eldercare in the United States — 2021–2022." Also see more charts on American Time Use Survey data.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 37.1 million people provided unpaid eldercare in 2021–2022 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/37-1-million-people-provided-unpaid-eldercare-in-2021-2022.htm (visited October 30, 2024).