An analysis from the National Partnership for Women and Families reveals a disconnect between the increasing costs of care and the stagnating wages of paid caregivers. Despite the crucial work caregivers do, their undervaluation forces many women out of the workforce. Key findings in the analysis show that though care workers saw a wage increase over the past few years, these higher wages cannot be considered a living wage anywhere in the country. The analysis also finds that costs for the three care industries (nursing and residential care facilities, childcare, and home health care) have outstripped overall inflation for the past decade.
By Isai Lozano, Policy Intern