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Valuing Care by Valuing Care Workers: The Big Cost of a Worthy Standard and Some Steps toward It

Report
October 7, 2015

This report describes the value and needs of “care worekrs,” a category of workers that includes both child care workers and direct care workers. This workforce — which totals 5.5 million and is growing rapidly — is plagued by low wages and insufficient protections, the author argues. The author then suggests ways to stabilize the workforce, including enhanced workforce protections, a higher minimum wage, and the implementation of paid leave policies.

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Key Takeaways

"The nation’s care workforce—including child care workers and direct care workers—numbers 5.5 million and is growing rapidly."
"Raising job quality and the standard of care requires a substantial infusion of public money."
"Care work is essential and invisible, private and public, denigrated and revered."
 

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