Nearly 40 million Americans are caring for older people, but new government data makes clear who is bearing the brunt: Gen X women.
New figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revealed that 14 percent of the U.S. population age 15 and older—some 38.2 million people—provided unpaid eldercare between 2023–24.
Most unpaid caregiveers are women, and the people most likely to shoulder the burden were not retirees or empty nesters, but Gen Xers in their late 40s through early 60s.
Gen X Women Carry the Heaviest Burden
The BLS survey shows that women make up 55 percent of all eldercare providers. However, the burden of caregiving is not spread evenly across all women.
The most represented age groups among the caregivers were 45–54 (19 percent) and 55–64 (24 percent)—directly overlapping with today’s Gen X.
Often still working and raising children, these women are also most likely to be caring for aging parents or family members. This triple responsibility puts them in what is known as the “sandwich generation.”
The ‘Sandwich Generation’: Caring for Kids and Parents
In fact, the research also revealed that 7.6 million eldercare providers are also parents with children under 18 living at home. More than half of these caregivers (55 percent) are providing care for their own parents.
“Caregiving has historically been seen as women’s work. Even as more men step up, women are still most likely to become the default caregiver for aging parents,” Marvell Adams Jr., CEO of Caregiver Action Network, told Newsweek.
“Sexist notions of gender norms, continuing wage gaps, and workforce expectations all reinforce why women often carry the heavier share of this responsibility.”
On a typical day, about 28 percent of eldercare providers are actively giving care, averaging nearly four hours of unpaid labor. Meanwhile, for those living with the person they care for, the demand is constant. Among those living with the person they care for, 64 percent provided care on a given day, averaging 3.2 hours.
The Cost of Caregiving
Even when employed, the commitment remains. Eighty six percent of eldercare providers with children are employed, and 72 percent are working full-time.
“Gen X women often balance full-time jobs with caregiving, which can mean lost income, stalled careers and heightened stress. They’re managing medical appointments, coordinating long-term care, and handling the financial and emotional toll of caregiving while raising children of their own,” Adams said.
Previous studies have revealed a financial strain that comes with caring, with 71 percent of middle-aged Americans providing care living “paycheck to paycheck.”
Differences show up across genders, too. Eighty four percent of caregiving fathers remain in full-time work, compared with just 60 percent of caregiving mothers.
More Support Needed
The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau has long warned that unpaid caregiving is a driver of the gender pay gap.
By their estimates, women lose about 15 percent of lifetime earnings because of time spent caregiving. That means the invisible hours Gen X women are spending on eldercare are also cutting into their long-term financial security—in retirement savings, Social Security contributions and career advancement.
When it comes to taking the pressure off caregivers, Adams points to a need for policy shifts and more support.
He explained: “Employers can help by offering flexible schedules, paid family leave, and caregiver support benefits. Policymakers must recognize caregiving as an essential part of our economy, not just a private family issue.
“At Caregiver Action Network, we encourage families to share responsibilities more equitably and to connect with caregiver support programs that provide resources and respite.
“Care can’t just fall on one person’s shoulders—it has to be shared across families, workplaces, and society as a whole.”
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