A new AARP report reveals that 59 million family caregivers in the United States provided an estimated 49.5 billion hours of unpaid care in 2024, with a total economic value exceeding $1 trillion. The average caregiver devotes 27 hours per week to caregiving tasks, and 57% are considered high-intensity caregivers. The average hourly value of this care rose to $20.41 — up from $16.59 in the previous report. This unpaid labor force equals the equivalent of roughly 23.8 million full-time workers, or about 17% of the entire U.S. workforce.

That $1 trillion reflects the everyday reality of millions of families, people stepping in to care for loved ones in ways that are both deeply personal and essential to how our country functions.

Source: AARP →