Caregiving and Employment in the Canadian Context

According to Statistics Canada, in 2012 more than 8M Canadians had provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, disability or aging-related needs during the previous year. The largest proportion (44%) were age 45-64—that is, baby boomers in peak earning years. Moreover, the number of boomer caregivers increased by 20% between 2007 and 2012. As in most developed countries, most Canadian caregivers are employed and many report care-related employment consequences. Many also report psychological, emotional and physical health consequences, many of which are serious enough to result in a visit to the doctor. Gender differences are narrowing: a slim majority (54%) of caregivers were women in 2012, but women still spend more time on care tasks, do more high demand tasks (personal and medical care), and experience more health and economic consequences.

Demand for care will continue to grow in Canada, as in most parts of the world. But Canada’s public caregiver support infrastructure is under-developed compared to other countries. And, despite growing awareness of the negative impact caregiving can have on labour force attachment, commitment and productivity, Canadian employers remain largely uncommitted to supportive workplace practices for caregivers.

In this paper we report results from further analysis of Statistics Canada’s 2012 General Social Survey on Caregiving and Care Receiving examining incidence and predictors of care-related health and employment consequences for caregivers, as well as estimates of monetary costs that accrue to caregivers’ employers as a result. These findings will be interpreted against the backdrop of the Canadian public and private policy context and implications for future policy and practice in the health and continuing care and labour domains discussed.