15 Mar 2019
Response to ONS statistics on carers and working
Latest figures from the ONS show that many people approaching later life are balancing work and caring responsibilities.
Our Director of Evidence Catherine Foot says that we need flexible working to ensure that people can remain in employment whilst also caring for loved ones.
Catherine Foot, Director of Evidence, Centre for Ageing Better, said:
“The latest figures reinforce how many people approaching later life have to balance work and other responsibilities with caring unpaid for partners and older relatives. One in five people in their 50s, 60s and 70s provide unpaid care and, across all ages, almost a quarter of women in the workforce are also carers.
“Caring for a parent is now the most prevalent type of caring and, with people living longer, it is likely to become more common in future. More and more people will face the difficult reality of managing the everyday pressures of life while at the same time caring for a loved one.
"Caring responsibilities can significantly impact people’s ability to keep working. By the year people reach State Pension Age, nearly half of all people have already stopped working, and caring is a major contributor to this. We need to make flexible working the default option for everyone, legislate to introduce flexible, paid carers’ leave, and give carers a Right to Return to the same job.”