We need it when we are young, when we are sick, when we live with disability, and as we grow older. Yet much of the care that allows people to remain independent, work, learn, and participate in their communities is still treated as a private family responsibility. That assumption has economic consequences.
In 2023, an estimated 748 million people were outside the global labor force because of care responsibilities, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), and of those, 708 million were women. The ILO has also emphasized that a well-functioning care economy supports families, strengthens the workforce, and enhances productivity. These figures should change the way we think about economic policy.
Care is often discussed as a matter of family policy, health policy, or social services. However, its consequences extend much further. When people cannot access the care they need, someone else frequently absorbs the responsibility.
That may mean a parent leaving work to care for a child, an adult accompanying an aging relative to appointments, or a family member taking over everyday tasks that someone can no longer safely perform alone. The economic costs can be substantial. Unaddressed vision impairment provides one clear example.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least one billion people have vision impairment that could have been prevented or remains unaddressed. The annual global productivity loss associated with vision impairment is estimated at $411 billion. WHO also identifies availability, affordability, and awareness as major factors determining whether people receive appropriate eye care.
The productivity figure is important, but it does not capture the full economic effect. Consider an older person who cannot see well enough to shop independently, prepare food safely, or travel to a local market. A family member may begin providing transportation or managing daily tasks.
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