The care economy, which includes providing both paid and unpaid care, is the backbone of our society. Care work supports the physical, psychological and emotional needs of care dependent groups such as children and adults with long-term conditions or disabilities. It includes personal support workers (PSWs) and early childhood educators (ECEs) whose roles span care and, in the case of ECEs, also intersect with education.
Paid care in health and education alone represents at least 12.6 per cent of Canada’s GDP. Across the country, however, care workers are stretched thin. They are facing severe staffing shortages at the same time that demand for care is rising, driven by Canada’s aging population and the growing need for affordable childcare.
In recent years, federal and provincial governments have invested in programs to attract, recruit and train more PSWs and ECEs. While this is one way to meet staffing needs, efforts must also include improving working conditions to ensure these are healthy jobs where workers can thrive.
Creating and supporting thriving workplaces strengthens worker well-being, enables PSWs and ECEs to provide the best care possible, and helps retain them in their occupations long-term, all of which will help improve their health equity outcomes.
PSWs and ECEs work in a variety of care settings. PSWs support older adults and persons with disabilities, often working extended and unpredictable hours without protected staffing ratios. ECEs facilitate the learning and development of young children and are frequently limited in their efforts by high workloads due to low staffing levels. Jobs in both occupations are most often held by women and racialized individuals, so improving their working conditions is also important for advancing equity in the labour market equity.
The work of PSWs and ECEs is essential to allow everyone to participate in paid employment. Without these roles, many people (predominantly women) would need to choose between earning an income and caring for their loved ones full-time.
In Ontario, demands for care are far surpassing the number of available staff. Ontario is predicted to be short at least 10,000 ECEs by 2026, and 51,900 PSWs by 2027.
Despite this overwhelming need, PSWs and ECEs are frequently underpaid, overworked and devalued, limiting their ability to thrive at work.
To thrive at work requires employment conditions that protect and promote workers’ physical, mental, economic and social health. Wellesley Institute’s Thriving at Work Framework identifies eight categories that can help promote employee health and well-being in the workplace:
- Income and benefits
- Secure jobs
- Inclusive work environments
- Occupational health and safety
- Reducing work life conflict
- Job demand and job control
- Opportunities for growth
- Participatory and fair work culture
In a new research project, Wellesley Institute is applying this framework to better understand PSW and ECE work environments. We want to learn how these jobs can support workers’ health and well-being, and what helps these workers thrive in the workplace. Funded by the Metcalf Foundation, the project will hear directly from PSWs and ECEs across Toronto about their everyday experiences at work. Together with sector leaders and stakeholders, our goal is to identify actionable solutions that will improve health equity outcomes for PSWs and ECEs at work.
Across Toronto, Ontario and Canada, we must work to strengthen our society, and this has to include supporting our care economy workforce. Governments who intend to succeed in attracting and retaining PSWs and ECEs must look beyond training incentives to what will create healthier jobs and lives.
Together, we can build better, safer and more sustainable workplaces for those who care for others every single day.
If you or someone you know is a PSW or a registered ECE in Toronto, we invite you to fill out our survey and share within your networks.