“At the beginning, it was just a job”: Exploring the Positive Dimensions and Value of Care Work through the Eyes of Care Workers in Canada

In their presentation for the 2025 conference of the Canadian Sociological Association, Izumi Niki and Ito Peng draw on 34 interviews with care workers in Canada, as well as Niki’s own auto-ethnography as a care worker, to highlight the rewards and benefits of care work — for workers, care recipients, and society.

Izumi Niki is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, and a Registered Social Worker in Ontario.

Ito Peng is the Canada Research Chair in Global Social Policy, Professor of Sociology and Public Policy at the Department of Sociology and the School of Public Policy and Governance, and the Director of the Centre for Global Social Policy.

Citation

Niki, I., Peng, I. (2025, June 12). “At the beginning, it was just a job”: Exploring the Positive Dimensions and Value of Care Work through the Eyes of Care Workers in Canada [Conference presentation]. Canadian Sociological Association 2025 Conference, Toronto.

Abstract

Care work is often seen as low-paying and emotionally taxing. However, this paper highlights its positive dimensions, particularly as “connective labour” (Pugh, 2023), and explores its broader implications in society. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 34 care workers in Canada, conducted as part of the Care Economies in Context research (PI: Dr. Ito Peng, University of Toronto) from March to November 2024, and an autoethnography of the first author as a migrant care worker, this study applies a reflexive grounded theory approach with critical feminist and intersectional perspectives.

The findings reveal both tangible and emotional benefits of care work. Tangibly, care work provides pathways for immigration and career advancement, particularly for immigrants and individuals with limited prior work experience. Certification in care work is relatively accessible, enabling workers to leverage skills acquired at home or abroad. Emotionally, care work fosters a sense of pride in providing high-value care to clients and their families, enhancing their quality of life. Workers also report personal growth, improved interpersonal skills, and moments of healing and encouragement from their interactions with clients. However, the face-to-face nature of care work leaves workers vulnerable to negative psychological impacts, such as emotional distress and self-blame.

This paper reveals that care work goes beyond immediate emotional rewards and fosters awareness of societal interdependence and reciprocity. It prompts self-reflection, encouraging workers to confront vulnerabilities and embark on a journey of emotional healing. This analysis challenges dominant societal norms emphasizing independence and the invisibility of care, instead highlighting the universal need for care and its fundamental role in human existence. Recognizing and valuing care work’s profound societal contributions demands adequate remuneration and respect, aligning its economic value with its deep emotional and social impact.