The direct-care worker at a glance (2008)

Demographic Employment and Income

Characteristics Characteristics

Gender Race/Ethnicity Employment Status

Employed part time 43% 57% Employed

10% 90% 49% 28% 16% 7% or full time part of full time
the year year-round

Male Female White, African Hispanic, Other Median Annual Earnings

Non- American Latino (accounting for part-time hours)
Hispanic
Average Age Personal &
home care aides $12,000
Nursing,
psychiatric & $20,000
home health aides
49 38 45 42
All direct-
Independent In nursing In home All care workers $17,000
providers care health direct-care
facilities care workers Median U.S.
Annual Earnings $35,400
Immigration Status

Health Insurance Status

77% 23% All direct-care

workers, uninsured 26%

Uninsured in nursing
care facilities 22%
Born in the U.S. Born outside the U.S.
Uninsured in home
health care services 33%
Education

Some 41% Reliance on Public Benefits

college or 59%
advanced High
degree school
or less

41% of direct-care workers rely on public benefits

Data Sources
Statistics relating to direct-care worker demographics and employment and income
characteristics are based on PHI analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population
Survey, 2009 Annual Social and Economic (ASEC) Supplement, with statistical program-
ming and data analysis provided by Carlos Figueiredo.

For more information on the direct-care workforce, contact

National Policy Director Steve Edelstein at sedelstein@PHInational.org or
Director of Policy Research Dr. Dorie Seavey at dseavey@PHInational.org.
Also visit our PHI PolicyWorks website at www.PHInational.org/policy.

PHI (www.PHInational.org) works to improve the lives of people

who need home and residential care—and the lives of the workers
who provide that care. Using our workplace and policy expertise,
we help consumers, workers, employers, and policymakers improve
eldercare/disability services by creating quality direct-care jobs. Our
goal is to ensure caring, stable relationships between consumers
and workers, so that both may live with dignity, respect, and independence.

349 East 149th Street, 10th Floor • Bronx, New York 10451 • Phone: 718.402.7766 • E-mail: info@PHInational.org

© Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, February 2010