The direct care sector will need millions of new workers to meet the growing demand for long-term care, which makes recruiting new populations essential. Men are one answer to this challenge—including, as two examples, the growing number of men who have unpaid caregiving experience, and those who have lost traditional employment opportunities due to the rapid decline of the manufacturing industry. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of men in direct care and the labor force overall. Drawing from broader employment research, we also offer a few tips on how to attract men to direct care jobs. This fact sheet is the third in a three-part series on segments of the labor force that are currently underutilized in the direct care sector, yet could be successfully recruited to help address the growing workforce shortage.
Key Takeaways
Men currently make up 14 percent of the direct care workforce, numbering approximately 489,000 workers.
The median age of men in the direct care workforce is 37.
13 percent of men in the direct care workforce live in poverty, compared to 19 percent of women.
Kezia Scales leads PHI’s strategy for building the evidence base on state and national policies and workforce interventions that improve direct care jobs, elevate this essential workforce, and strengthen care processes and outcomes.
