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. Younger people are one answer to this recruitment challenge—specifically, those people aged 18 to 24, who comprise nearly 13 percent of the total U.S. labor force. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of younger workers in direct care and the broader labor force. Drawing from broader employment research, we also offer a few tips on how to attract younger people to direct care jobs.
Key Takeaways
Young people aged 18 to 24 make up 16 percent of the direct care workforce.
Young people aged 18 to 24 in the direct care workforce total 567,000 workers.
71% of young people aged 18 to 24 in the direct care workforce work part time or part year.
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.
