Who are direct-care workers? Fact Sheet

Direct-care workers provide 70-80% of the paid hands-on long-term care and personal assistance received by the elderly or individuals living with disabilities or other chronic conditions. They also constitute one of the largest and fastest-growing workforces in the country, playing a vital role in job creation and economic growth, particularly in low-income communities. This analysis shows that the wages and benefits for these frontline health care workers continue to be woefully inadequate.