New data analysis shows that Australia’s ageing population combined with delayed parenthood is leading women towards a “triple care burden” in middle life.
e61 Institute analysts Pelin Akyol and Rose Khattar say women in their 40s and 50s sandwiched between caring obligations for children and ageing relatives, will also be dealing with their own health needs like menopause or perimenopause.
“Forget the ‘sandwich generation’ – Australian women are now facing a ‘triple care burden’ that’s silently impacting their careers, health and financial futures,” Akyol and Khattar say.
Adding to the problem is the fact that women bear the brunt of caregiving at home.
A longitudinal study of more than 20,000 people recently found that Australian men are not doing any more housework than they were 20 years ago.
The latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey report revealed that women do 50 per cent more housework than men in an average week.
The latest Census supports this, finding that women take on a much bigger share of unpaid care compared to men.
“The numbers speak for themselves,” Akyol and Khattar say.
“The 2021 Census reveals that around 80 per cent of women aged 40 to 44 are providing informal caregiving, compared to 65 per cent of men.
“This imbalance forces many women to cut back on work hours, slow their career progression, or even leave the workforce entirely, creating a ripple effect on their earning potential and Australia’s economy.”
As Australia’s ageing population grows, there is increasing concern for middle-aged women who will be grappling with the “triple care burden”, which can come with financial penalties like loss in income and reduced work hours.
It can also lead to other challenges.
“The ‘motherhood penalty’ is well-documented, but the true economic cost of this triple care burden is far greater and largely unseen,” Akyol and Khattar say.
“Research shows women’s work hours plummet when caring for relatives, and unlike men, this reduction is often persistent.
“Crucially, the impact of perimenopause and menopause on productivity and job retention is rarely measured, yet symptoms like disrupted sleep and concentration have clear implications for women’s ability to juggle these demands, exacerbating gender inequities.”
e61 Institute’s analysis shows that the burden of care pushed onto women in their 40s and 50s has risen over the past decade.
“The care landscape has fundamentally shifted,” Akyol and Khattar say.
“Women in their 40s and 50s today are shouldering far more informal care than previous generations.
“This isn’t just an anecdotal observation.
“Data from 2006 to 2021 clearly shows a significant increase in women in this age group caring for both their own children (due to delayed parenthood) and someone with a disability (likely elderly parents, due to an ageing population).”
Emerging research is starting to capture the broader impacts of women taking on the burden of unpaid care.
These implications are not just bad for women but they harm the broader economy through loss of productivity and revenue.
Policymakers and leaders today must not continue to ignore the triple care burden.
“This isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s an economic imperative,” Akyol and Khattar say.
“As women make up a crucial part of Australia’s skilled workforce, allowing them to cut back or drop out at their career peak means a huge loss of talent, increased turnover costs for businesses, and a widening of the gender pay gap.
“To maximise women’s full participation in the labour force and ensure Australia’s economic growth, policymakers must urgently invest in better data and research to understand the full impact of the triple care burden, especially the largely ignored dimension of self-care and menopause.”