Resources

Care work, both paid and unpaid, plays a central role in enabling all other work and economicproductivity to happen. The care economy is also expected to be the fastest-growing sectorof work in the world with predictions that it could add up to 150 million jobs by 2030.Worldwide, women and girls contribute more than 70% of both paid and unpaid caregivinghours and perform more than 75% of unpaid care work. Women also make up the majorityof the paid care workforce globally making the care economy a key sector with the potentialto improve women’s empowerment, gender equality and economic growth.1 Sizing the SouthAfrican care economy, estimating the potential for creating care jobs and targetedinvestment, are thus crucial pillars of Harambee’s work in the sector.

This report estimates the size of the South African care economy through an analysis of thenumber of existing and potential future job opportunities in the sector. It also outlines thepotential impact of investment into the care economy including economic impact, impact onbeneficiaries, and impact on the young people who could access the job opportunitiestogether with the broader societal impacts.