Kate Butler and Uttam Bajwa are developing a new line of research on the economic realities of young caregivers in Canada, drawing on their combined expertise in children’s rights, work and health, and participatory youth-engaged research. Their emerging work highlights how unpaid caregiving shapes education, employment, and financial stability, revealing a national issue that has remained hidden for far too long.

In Canada, there are almost two million young people aged 30 and younger who provide care to family members or other loved ones who are experiencing illness, disabilities, or age-related challenges. Despite the scale of their contributions to their families, communities, and society, young caregivers’ experiences are often invisible in policy, research and public conversation. Existing research has done a great deal to describe their mental health and social challenges. The economic dimensions remain far less visible and understood.

Drawing on existing literature, we outline 5 things currently understood about young caregivers, and 5 critical gaps that must be addressed to better support their wellbeing.

5 Things We Understand About Young Caregivers

1. Young caregivers are a large, often invisible population, sometimes even to themselves. A significant minority of young caregivers carry a disproportionate burden, which can impact their health and wellbeing.

Statistics Canada data shows that Canada has 1.9 million young caregivers, representing 27% of young people aged 15–29. Yet they remain largely unseen by policy and service systems. Young people may not self-identify as caregivers, which means many are unable to access informal supports as well as the limited formal supports that do exist. Within this group, a high‑intensity minority provides the equivalent of part‑time work each week and experiences the most severe educational, economic, and health consequences.

2. Caregiving can disrupt education and economic livelihoods.

Young caregivers often face what has been termed the “young carer penalty,” reflecting the adverse effects on health and wellbeing that arise when systemic supports are lacking and caregiving responsibilities fall disproportionately to young people. Furthermore, a significant share of young caregivers report that their responsibilities interfere with school. These disruptions lead to delayed credentials, reduced qualifications, and lower lifetime earnings, shaping long‑term economic trajectories.

3. Caregiving is highly gendered across all demographics and shaped by intersecting barriers.

Young women appear more likely to be caregivers than young men. In Canada, 6 in 10 young caregivers identify as female. Young men also provide significant care, but we still lack a strong understanding of the ways in which informal caregiving labour is gendered. This pattern is important because gendered caregiving can shape access to education and career trajectories, which may lead to long-term disadvantages for women in the workforce. Newcomer and immigrant young caregivers also face intersecting barriers that impact their educational and economic opportunities. Socioeconomic status, experiences of living with a disability, and experiences of systemic racism and other forms of discrimination further contribute to the uneven burdens young caregivers face.

4. There is a culture of shame that surrounds caregiving, which increases isolation and prevents young people from accessing support.

Due to stigma, fear of judgement, or worry about exposing their family’s vulnerabilities, many young caregivers feel they need to hide their responsibilities. This shame contributes to self-invisibility, discourages them from seeking help, and increases mental health challenges such as anxiety and loneliness. It also reinforces the widespread notion that caregiving is a private family issue rather than a social responsibility. Some parents may also feel guilt and shame about relying on their children and may fear that imposing caregiving duties on their child could result in family separation.

5. Providing care can both be a source of fulfillment and an opportunity to lead positive change for young people.

Caregiving is difficult but young people are essential to our care ecosystem and the work they do is important. Many young people take pride in caring for loved ones.

Caring is problematic when responsibilities compromise a young person’s rights, access to education and economic security, and wellbeing. Young people want to be meaningfully engaged in building solutions to these challenges and many are already leading this work. There are young caregiver advisory groups at a number of organizations and youth-led carer organizations, such as the Young Caregiver Council of Canada (YCCC).

5 Critical Knowledge Gaps We Must Address to Better Support Young Caregivers

Caregiving in Canada is changing, and young people are already playing a much larger role than is recognized. Research and advocacy has generated important momentum, but young caregivers remain one of the least visible groups within the borders caregiving population. Their experiences are shaped by gaps in education, employment, housing, and social protection systems that were not designed with their needs in mind.

The existing literature shows that young caregivers face profound challenges, even as they experience a profound sense of meaning in their caregiving roles. It also shows how much we still need to learn. We lack reliable data on their financial contributions, the long-term economic impacts of caregiving, barriers around schooling and work, and the support that would make the greatest difference. These gaps limit our ability to design policies that protect young people’s rights, expand opportunities, and strengthen the care systems they help sustain.

1. Which policies, programs, and supports are most effective at supporting young caregivers’ wellbeing and economic futures – and how do we effectively implement them?

While there are promising practices around the world attempting to address the burden on young caregivers, researchers and policymakers have not yet identified which financial supports, such as stipends, bursaries or tax credits, actually reduce the burden on young caregivers. We also need clearer insight into which structural supports matter most, including flexible schooling, respite, and workplace accommodations, as noted in the National Caregiving Strategy.

Another gap concerns the settings and systems that are most effective for reaching young caregivers. Schools, community programs, health services, and digital platforms all play a role, but we do not yet know which ones have the greatest impact. Teachers and other frontline adults may be especially important, yet we have little guidance on how to equip them to identify young caregivers and connect families to help. Along the same lines, there are opportunities within the medical system to better support young caregivers.

2. What are the true lifetime and psychosocial penalties of being a young caregiver?

Systems that young caregivers engage with are not designed for their needs, which fragments support, increases their invisibility, and heightens their barriers to supporting their loved ones and to their personal wellbeing. Furthermore, caregiving can disrupt the transition to employment not just once, but many times.

So, how does being a young caregiver affect an individual over time? How does caregiving shape labour-market entry, job quality, and long-term career mobility for young people? And how do existing social inequities (for example, along the lines of gender, race, class, migration status, and disability) shape these pathways?

3. How do young caregivers contribute to household finances and how do these contributions impact their own economic futures?

We know that young caregivers often play a in their families. They may contribute income from their own part-time jobs or cover the costs of their own basic needs. They reduce household expenses by providing unpaid care that substitutes for formal care that would cost thousands of dollars. They may also forgo opportunities like extracurriculars or early work experiences, limiting the skills, networks, and credentials that shape future earning potential..

However, we have limited data on how much young caregivers contribute, how these contributions vary across income levels and families, or how they shape long-term livelihoods and wellbeing. Without tools to quantify these financial trade‑offs, the economic impact of young caregivers remains largely invisible in policy, budgeting, and program design.

4. How does caregiving affect young people’s aspirations and dreams for themselves? Are young caregivers drawn to careers in caregiving, or are they pushed away?

Little research currently exists on what motivates young caregivers’ educational and career choices. Understanding choices and trajectories of young caregivers would give us a better sense of the challenges unique to young caregivers when it comes to their own dreams and goals. Talking to young caregivers, it is clear that caregiving becomes part of their identity and may lead them to careers in health and social services, often deciding this at a young age. It would be helpful to better understand their career and educational choices as relates to caregiving, as this could lead to better support.

5. How can we shift the culture around care, and normalize the fact that caring for loved ones within the home environment is an essential part of the human experience?

We lack evidence on how to normalize care as a valued, ubiquitous aspect of family and community life, how to reduce stigma across spaces and institutions young people interact with, and how to engage parents in strengthening young caregivers educational, economic, and psychosocial well-being. Even the most efficient policies and programs will struggle without culture change.

Addressing these gaps calls for a broader culture shift to recognize caregiving as a shared social responsibility rather than a private burden, to reduce the shame and isolation many young caregivers experience, and to ensure that young people with significant caregiving responsibilities are supported as they move through emergent adulthood. By listening to young caregivers, investing in research, and building systems that reflect the realities of care today, Canada can take meaningful steps toward a future where young caregivers are seen, valued, and supported to thrive.

References

Armed Forces Families Highland. (2026, February 24). New resources for young carers from armed forces families. https://armedforcesfamilieshighland.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/new-resources-young-carers-from-armed-forces-families/

Armenta, A., & Gallegos-Guajardo, J. (2024). Examining the psychosocial impact of young caregiving: A cross-national study of resilience and wellbeing. Journal of Youth Studies, 27(8). https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2024.2390899

Becker, F., & Becker, S. (2008). Young adult carers in the UK: Experiences, needs and services for carers aged 16-24. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. http://www.youngadultcarers.eu/docs/1738-yac-report-3846.pdf

Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence. (2024). A national caregiving strategy for Canada. https://canadiancaregiving.org/national-caregiving-strategy/

Casu, G., Hlebec, V., & Santini, S. (2026). Profiles of young carers in Europe: A cross-national study. Healthcare, 14(6), 712. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14060712

Chalmers, H. & Lucyk, L. (2012). The impact of caregiving: Is it who I am or what I do? Relational Child and Youth Care Practice. 25(2), 37-46

Evans, R., & Becker, S. (2025). Global overview of young carers: Prevalence, impacts and policy responses. Public Health, 239, 156-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.01.015

Fisher, C. L., Lawlor, D. A., & Tilling, K. (2025). Young carers and their health and education: A global challenge. The Lancet Public Health, 10(2), e99-e100. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00099-4

International Development Research Centre. (2026, February 2). Care work: The invisible foundation of economies — and a missing link to inclusive growth. https://idrc-crdi.ca/en/perspectives/care-work-invisible-foundation-economies-and-missing-link-inclusive-growth

Kalvesmaki, A. F., Miller, K. E., Armstrong-Carter, E., Lewis, F., Shih, R. A., Olson, E., & Kavanaugh, M. S. (2025). The challenge of identifying young carers in the US: how state laws put families at risk for separation. International Journal of Care and Caring, 9(1), 188-195. Retrieved Mar 23, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1332/23978821Y2024D000000082

Lallukka, T., Pietiläinen, O., & Rahkonen, O. (2026). Young adult carers’ health-related quality of life and education: A population-based study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 82(3), 15162. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15162

Mayer, R., & Smith, J. (2025). Young caregivers’ participation in education and employment: Evidence from a Canadian national survey. Child & Society, 39(1), e70014. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.70014

Nap, H. H., Hoefman, R., de Jong, N., & Lewis, F. (2025). The psychosocial wellbeing of young carers: A longitudinal study. Child: Care, Health and Development, 51(1), e70006. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70006

Newman, K., Chalmers, H., Wang, A. Z. Y., Ciotti, S., Luxmykanthan, L., & Mansell, N. (2023). The impact of public health restrictions on young caregivers and how they navigated a pandemic: Baseline interviews from a longitudinal study conducted in Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(14), 6410. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20146410

Perri, L. X., Fakolade, A., & Lewin, W. (2023). Supporting young carers in Canada. Canadian Family Physician, 69(11), 805–807. https://www.cfp.ca/content/69/11/805

Saragosa, M., Frew, M., Hahn-Goldberg, S., Orchanian-Cheff, A., Abrams, H., & Okrainec, K. (2022). The young carers’ journey: A systematic review and meta ethnography. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(10), 5826. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19105826

Stajduhar, K., & Meyer, R. (2025). Supporting the invisible workforce: Family physicians’ role in identifying and assisting young caregivers. Canadian Family Physician, 71(5), 314-316. https://www.cfp.ca/content/cfp/71/5/314.full.pdf

Stamatopoulos, V. (2018). The young carer penalty: Exploring the costs of caregiving among a sample of Canadian youth. Child & Youth Services, 39(2-3), 180–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/0145935X.2018.1491303

Stamatopoulos, V., & Chalmers, H. (2022). COVID-19 and the invisible army of young carers: A call to action. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 39(6), 661–672. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-021-00797-2

Statistics Canada. (2014). Young Canadians providing care. Government of Canada. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/89-652-x/89-652-x2014003-eng.htm

Thomas, N., & Joseph, S. (2025). Mental health outcomes among adolescent young carers: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 368, 452-461. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40516561/

UCAS. (2024). Next steps: Who are the “future healthcare professionals”? Understanding the journey of young carers into higher education. Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/reports/young-carers-higher-education