Provision of care services could create 300 million jobs worldwide: ILO

An increase in care provision could create 299 million jobs by 2035, speeding up the post-COVID global economic recovery, highlighted the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in a report.

Of that, women could hold 78% of these new jobs and 84% of these would be formal employment. However, transformative investment in gender-equal leave, universal childcare and long-term care services is needed to make that happen, ILO noted. 

On that note, an estimated US$5.4 trillion per year will be required worldwide by 2035, some of which could be offset by increases in tax revenue from additional earnings created by these new roles, ILO said. 

“We need to rethink the way we provide care policies and services so that they form a continuum of care that provides children with a good start, supports women to stay in employment and prevents families or individuals falling into poverty,” said Manuela Tomei, Director of the ILO’s Conditions of Work and Equality Department.

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“Plugging these care gaps should be seen as an investment that not only supports health and livelihoods but fundamental rights, gender equity and greater representation too,” Tomei added.