America Will Need Nearly 850,000 More Home Care Workers by 2035

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of home health and personal care aides will increase by approximately 847,300 jobs between 2025 and 2035, more new jobs than any other occupation in the United States. Total employment in the field is expected to rise from about 4.68 million workers in 2025 to 5.52 million in 2035, an increase of 18 percent, compared to projected growth of just 3.5 percent across all U.S. occupations.

For 24 Hour Caregivers, a California-based home care provider, these numbers reinforce the challenge the industry is already experiencing: finding, training and retaining enough qualified caregivers. “The caregiver shortage isn't something that's coming ten years from now. We're dealing with it today,” said Allen Tahir, Founder and CEO of 24 Hour Caregivers.

The BLS estimates approximately 760,500 openings for home health and personal care aides each year, on average, from 2025 through 2035, including both new positions and replacements for workers leaving the occupation. For comparison, the projected 847,300 additional jobs far exceed the numeric gains expected in other major occupations such as stockers and order fillers (250,700), registered nurses (194,700) and software developers (174,700).

Much of the growth is driven by demographics: Americans are living longer, the population of older adults is increasing, and long-term services have shifted toward home and community-based settings. While many families want their aging parents to remain at home, making that possible depends on having reliable, compassionate caregivers. 24 Hour Caregivers emphasizes that retention must be as important as recruitment, and while technology can help with scheduling and efficiency, it cannot replace the human touch needed for companionship and personal care.