The percentage of full-time working caregivers in the US has increased significantly since 2019, and this data deserves a closer look. New reports show that of all the Americans who work full-time, almost half of them also manage caregiver duties. This might look like a commonplace occurrence that doesn’t warrant much alarm, but these added responsibilities alter an employee’s on-the-job experience. Understanding the struggles of workers juggling caregiving responsibilities with their work can open up a lot of doors to better planning how to provide benefits and support systems catered to them, making it important to turn our eyes to the rising sandwich generation.
New Data Shows a 13% Increase in the Number of Full-Time Working Caregivers in the US
Working without the burden of any external responsibilities can be tiring enough on its own. When kids or aging parents are added into the mix, the task of balancing a professional life with a personal life becomes doubly complex. One might be inclined to dismiss this as the natural order of things; however, with increasing pressures on an employee’s professional life, focusing on either work or family can become difficult.
Guardian’s From Workforce to “Careforce” report found that 43% of full-time US workers are also juggling caregiving responsibilities. This marks a 13% increase from the data available in 2019, where 38% of workers found themselves in a similar situation. The data also studied the composition of the workers who were managing such a role.
In 2023, the Guardian found that 56% of the caregiver workforce was made up of women, while men accounted for the other 44%. In 2025, the latest report showed that 57% of full-time working caregivers were men, and 43% were women. This might suggest that more men were taking on caregiver roles instead of women, but the report was inclined to believe that there was a mass exodus of women from the workforce. This data confirms what we’ve heard before: women are being forced to forego employment for different reasons, one of which is likely to turn caregivers full-time.
With Caregiving Responsibilities Rising, Employees Are Finding Themselves Struggling
The rising number of full-time working caregivers leads us to many different findings. With the caregiver workforce growing in 2025, many workers have additional responsibilities, expenses, and emotionally draining challenges to face after what they experience at work. The Workforce to “Careforce” report also found that only 36% of caregivers report experiencing “very good” mental health. For the rest, they face an increased likelihood of anxiety and depression, and also stand at greater risk of issues like substance abuse.
Over a third of the caregiving workers who took a paid leave of absence reported doing so due to their mental health, and this is likely in addition to the time off they needed for their caregiving responsibilities. Caring for aging or unwell members of the family is a demanding task, and this is particularly true for employees who also have children dependent on them.
The sandwich generation workforce is growing, which means that they have family, both old and young, dependent on them. Earlier this year, Business Insider reported that one in four Americans belongs to the rising sandwich generation. This is a nearly 50% increase since 2015. They report that the time spent on caring for kids and parents takes up almost 50 hours a week, all while balancing a full-time job. This has an obvious impact on both their health and finances.
Where Do Employers Fit Into the Picture?
The data speaks for itself: workers balancing their caregiver duties with their work have multiple additional burdens to bear that impair them from working to their full potential. An employer might certainly choose to dismiss this as a problem for the employee to resolve, but with workers spending the majority of their time on the job, these challenges will inevitably seep into the workplace as well.
Employees who have too much on their plates will likely be unable to concentrate on their work with as much abandon. Issues of absenteeism often irk employers, but full-time working caregivers have no choice but to occasionally take time off to care for their families, even if they skip their own doctor’s appointments. Creativity can be stifled by strain, and employees working under such pressure will find themselves unable to volunteer themselves for additional opportunities at work.
Again, an employer can choose to handle this by hiring workers who are free of such constraints, but this isn’t a sufficient strategy to pack a workforce. Most workers without such duties weighing on them are likely from the younger generation, and employers have previously expressed a hesitation with regard to hiring from their ranks. Employees rarely arrive at the workplace in pristine condition, unmarred by the realities of daily living. It’s best to accept matters and work with the candidates who are best qualified for a role while understanding how they can be supported at work.
What Can Employers Do to Help Their Sandwich Generation Workforce?
As standard practice, most employers provide a few benefits to attract and retain employees to ensure their business is fully staffed. Some of these benefits are utilized by employees, and others are left alone because they aren’t of particular use to the workers. Understanding the composition of the workforce and their needs is an essential part of structuring the benefits plan to ensure that it successfully accomplishes the job of retaining them.
Addressing these full-time working caregivers is no different. Planning support for these workers can look like:
- Regular communication with these workers to understand what their struggles are and what help they need
- Access to organizations that provide caregiver support for employees who need it
- Retirement support and aid with future planning, so employees are not burdened by the limited savings for their own future
- Flexible work options that allow workers to manage their caregiver responsibilities with greater ease
- Mental health support and resources for employees to seek the support they need
- Access to financial planning tools and education to manage their money better
- More generous caregiver leave opportunities for workers who do not have to fear losing their jobs
Employee well-being is an employer’s responsibility to a large degree, and by understanding and addressing what workers need, employers can help their own business thrive as a desirable place to work. Such considerations foster a culture of support and community, benefitting the workplace in a myriad of ways.
How can employers help full-time working caregivers better manage their responsibilities? Share your thoughts with us. Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights on workplace trends, layoffs, and what to expect with the advent of AI.
