Buckner, Lisa And Yeandle, Sue

This paper updates the estimate of the value of carers’ support published by Carers UK in 2007 in Valuing carers – calculating the value of carers’ support.

It estimates the economic value of the contribution made by carers in the UK as a remarkable £119 billion per year – considerably more than the annual cost of all aspects of the NHS.

In the future most people's lives will include at least one episode of unpaid caring. Find out the facts behind the people who balance their job with caring for a relative or friend.

• Already, 2.5 million people in England and Wales combine paid work with unpaid caring for a partner, relative or friend who is ill, frail or has a disability.

• 1.5 million carers work full-time, and of those, 140,000 care for 50+ hours per week.

• 90% of working carers are aged 30+ - in their prime employment years.