New Report Reveals U.S. Family Caregivers Perform Equivalent of a Staggering $873.5 Billion Worth of Labor, Would Surpass Revenue of Top Global Companies

Findings in a new report) show that if family caregiving was a business entity, it would be the largest revenue-generating company in the world – exceeding the revenue of Apple (+126%), Amazon (+45%) and Walmart (+31%).

Data in the study, conducted by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and sponsored by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., suggest there are 44.58 million caregivers in the U.S. performing the equivalent of an estimated $873.5 billion worth of labor each year — or 3.2% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). Alzheimer’s disease or dementia care is valued at $346.6 billion; contributing nearly 40% of the total family caregiving valuation, despite only accounting for 25.7% of caregivers.
 
Nearly half of U.S. states (48%) are on the brink of an unpaid family caregiving emergency, according to the study findings, which show unpaid family caregiving is either “critical” or at “high risk” in 24 states. “America’s Unseen Workforce: The State of Family Caregiving” is the latest in a research series sponsored by Otsuka advocating for the visibility and support of family caregivers and analyzes a multitude of factors at the state level to assess how differing demographics, healthcare infrastructures and economic conditions impact unpaid family caregivers.
 
Click here to view the full report.