- Around three million people in the UK combine work with unpaid caring responsibilities, including two million who work full-time and one million part-time. (Census, 2011)
- While part-time working is much more common amongst carers than non-carers, carers are also more likely to stop working altogether as they struggle to switch to part-time hours. Over two million people have given up work at some point to care for loved ones, and three million have reduced working hours. (Caring and Family Finances Inquiry, Carers UK, 2014)
- The majority of carers are of working age and the peak age for caring (50 - 64) often coincides with the peak of an individual’s career. One in five people in this age bracket are carers, including one in four women and one in six men. (Census, 2011)
- The number of working age carers is set to increase as our population and workforce ages, with an estimated 40% rise in the number of carers needed by 2037, meaning the carer population in the UK will reach 9 million. (It Could Be You, Carers UK, 2001)
- Younger carers in work aged 20 - 21 are more likely to be in lower skilled occupations than their peers. (Hidden from View: The experiences of young carers in England, Children’s Society, 2013)
- Out of a sample group of 77 carers, 32 young adult carers in work informed their managers of their caring role. Just under half of these reported that their managers were not supportive. (Young Adult Carers and Employment, Sempik and Becker, Carers Trust, 2014)