Because of the graying general population, home care is one of the fastest growing workforce sectors.

At the same time, older women aged 55+ make up 22% of the current 3.2 million workforce.

It is expected that the percentage will rise to one of every three employees within eight years.

By 2018, 1.2 million direct-care workers are expected to be women aged 55 and over.

The significant increase in older direct-care workers (nursing home assistants, home health aides, and personal and home care aides) is anticipated in part because the workforce overall is growing dramatically – from 3.2 million to 4.3 million workers.

Older women in particular are expected to be more prevalent in the direct-care workforce because the nation’s entire workforce is aging.

“Older women are increasingly providing frontline services and supports for frail elders and people with disabilities to live independently and with dignity,” said Steven Dawson, president of PHI, an organization devoted to improving conditions for at-home healthcare workers.

“National and state policymakers must work together to ensure that direct-care jobs, which are primarily funded through public dollars, are quality jobs that attract a stable, compassionate workforce,” said Dawson. “Without these workers, families will not be able to provide the support elders need to live independently and to continue to enjoy the relationships and activities that give their lives meaning.”

According to PHI, in 2008, the median hourly wage for all direct-care workers was $10.42, which is significantly less than $15.57, the median wage for all U.S. workers. Without competitive wages, the older women who are filling these positions today are likely to look elsewhere for employment.

Direct-care workers, who are 90 percent female, tend to be older than females in the nation’s overall workforce – 22 percent of direct-care workers were age 55+ in 2008 compared to 18 percent for the overall female workforce. An even greater proportion (28.1 percent) of personal and home care aides were aged 55 or older in 2008.

The projections were made by Dorie Seavey, Ph.D., director of policy research at PHI, by analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), 2009, Annual Social and Economic (ASEC) Supplement, and applying the information to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Program, 2008-18 National Employment Matrix.

More information about PHI  is available at www.phinational.org.