Labor market work and home care's unpaid caregivers : a systematic review of labor force participation rates, predictors of labor market withdrawal, and hours of work

As people continue to age and receive complex health care services at home, concern has arisen about the availability of family caregivers and their ability to combine employment with caregiving. This article evaluates the international research on unpaid caregivers and their labour market choices, highlighting three conclusions: first, caregivers in general are equally as likely to be in the labour force as non-caregivers; second, caregivers are more likely to work fewer hours in the labour market than non-caregivers, particularly if their caring commitments are heavy; and finally, only those heavily involved in caregiving are significantly more likely to withdraw from the labour market than non-caregivers. Policy recommendations are targeting greater access to formal care for 'intensive' caregivers and developing workplace policies for employed caregivers.