Caring for others: A reality for nearly half of Canadians

Caregiving touches every stage of life: From caring for a newborn or young child, to supporting an aging parent or a family member with an illness or disability.

Sometimes, it’s paid care. Other times, it’s unpaid, and providing it can be both rewarding and challenging. For many caregivers, it can also be stressful and exhausting.

Ahead of the United Nations Care and Support Day (October 29), let’s take a closer look at some key Statistics Canada data and analysis that shed light on caregiving and the care economy in Canada.

According to data from the Canadian Social Survey (CSS) for 2022, nearly one in two Canadians aged 15 or older reported providing either unpaid or paid care in the previous 12 months for care-dependent adults or children, with women (52%) significantly more likely than men (42%) to provide such care.

Just over 3 in 10 people in Canada were involved in looking after or providing some form of care to children under the age of 15.

In addition, the General Social Survey found that in 2018, nearly one in four (24%) Canadians aged 65 years and older were caregivers, and were most likely to be caring for a spouse.

In 2022, more than 1 in 20 Canadians (6%) reported “sandwich caregiving,” or providing unpaid care to both children and care-dependent adults. Women (7%) were more likely than men (5%) to report this type of caregiving.

Most (86%) of these caregivers said that their care responsibilities affected at least one aspect of their health and well-being. A substantial proportion (66%) of non-retired sandwich caregivers also reported that these responsibilities affected their employment and job-seeking activities.

Turning to paid child care: Almost three in five children aged 0 to 5 years (58%) were in paid child care (either centre- or home-based) in Canada in 2025. Half (50%) of parents whose children were in child care reported having difficulty finding it.

 Over one in four children (25.9%) aged 1 to 3 years and not in child care were on a waitlist in 2025, similar to 2023 (24.4%) and up considerably from 2022 (16.4%).

The latest data from Statistics Canada indicate that there were more than 4,500 job vacancies nationwide for home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (except child-care workers) in the second quarter of 2026. The average offered hourly wage was $21.75, virtually unchanged from the same quarter a year earlier ($22.00).

These workers include live-in caregivers, personal care attendants, and respite workers. Their services include bedside and personal care, meal preparation, and health-related duties such as giving medications.

Although the number of vacancies decreased by nearly 1,000 in the second quarter of 2026 from the same quarter a year earlier, almost 9 in 10 vacancies (89.1%) involved constant recruiting in the second quarter of 2026—an indication of the constant need for care. 

Through its own social and economic data and in collaboration with Canadian experts on care, StatCan released the report “Canada's Care Economy: A Conceptual Framework” in 2023.

In the report, it is estimated that the economic value of unpaid work (including unpaid care) was between $516.9 billion and $860.2 billion in 2019. Additionally, unpaid care for adults with long-term conditions, disabilities, or problems related to aging was valued at $97.1 billion in 2018.

To end on a positive note, the CSS found that in 2024, about 9 in 10 Canadians reported having people they could depend on when needed, either always or often (72.9%) or sometimes (17.9%).

While that can extend beyond caregiving, it highlights the important role that personal support networks play in Canadians’ lives. 

Earlier this year, our Eh Sayers podcast covered the topic of population aging, including caregiving.

For the latest data and analysis, visit Older adults and population aging statistics, Children and Youth Statistics, and the Quality of Life Hub.

The General Social Survey – Well-being and Unpaid Care is currently collecting data until December 31, 2026. If selected, please participate! Your responses will help inform programs and services that support the well-being of Canadians, including for those who provide care. Results are expected to be released in fall 2027. For more information, visit our Information for survey participants page.