India’s care economy is projected to expand by $300 billion and generate more than 60 million jobs by 2030. A report by Primus Partners highlights care services as a crucial yet often overlooked economic sector in India. Currently employing about 36 million workers, the sector encompasses childcare, eldercare, disability support, mental health, and wellness services.
The report emphasizes the need for investments in skilling, certification, formalization, and demand creation within the care industry. Despite the increasing demand for care services, this sector is largely excluded from formal economic planning. Dr. Meenakshi Hembram, from the Government of NCT of Delhi, stresses the importance of formalization, fair wages, and social security for care workers, especially women who constitute a significant part of the care workforce.
Care services, being labor-intensive and resistant to automation, offer substantial employment opportunities across various cities and regions in India. The report identifies 13 distinct care personas, ranging from entry-level roles like domestic help to skilled positions such as certified nursing assistants. Formalizing these roles could transform the care sector into a major driver of employment and economic growth.
Prof. V. K. Malhotra, Chairman of the Food Commission of Madhya Pradesh, underlines the economic significance of the care economy, emphasizing the need to formalize and upskill caregivers to enhance productivity, service quality, and sustainable economic development. The report underscores the potential for structured skilling and certification pathways to elevate the status and income stability of care workers in India.
