A substantial part of the workforce — about one-eighth — engage in unpaid care for "persons with ill health, a disability, mental illness, an addiction, or in their old age." In the five years from 2001 to 2006, this section of the workforce grew at a faster rate than the general population, and it is thus important from a labour market perspective to examine the labour market characteristics of this growing population in order to facilitate effective policymaking for unpaid carers.
This report provides the Carers' Governance Group with a detailed picture of the labour market characteristics of unpaid carers, and uses data from the 2001 and 2006 Censuses of Population and Dwellings. The labour market indicators examined include employment status, educational attainment, income, and skills of carers.
Key Results
- Carers comprised a greater proportion of the general population in 2006 compared with 2001.
- The proportion of older carers grew between 2001 and 2006, especially among those aged 55 years or over.
- Female carers outnumbered male carers in every age group in 2006, sometimes by as high as two to one. However, the age profile of male carers was similar to that of female carers.
- By ethnicity, female Māori were most likely to be carers, followed closely by female Māori/Europeans. Asians were least likely to be carers.
- Older carers were more likely to have higher qualifications; this may reflect the gradual lifting effect of lifelong education, in which people take up opportunities to engage in training and education as they age. It may also reflect a wealth effect, with skilled and well-off older workers being able to afford more time to devote to caring.
- Carers were less likely to be in full-time employment and more likely to be working part-time.
- Male carers were far more likely to be employed full-time; female carers more likely to be employed part-time.
- Carers tended to have lower incomes than the general population, but the differences were not large.
- By industry, those carers who worked were more likely to be employed in health care and social assistance or education and training than people in the general population.
- By occupation, those carers who worked were most likely to be employed as community and personal service workers or professionals than people in the general population.