From Unpaid Care to Shared Prosperity: Investing in Disability Inclusion to Unlock Growth

The Hidden Cost to Economies

When families lack the necessary support to provide care for persons with disabilities, countries forfeit significant economic potential. Unpaid care work-much of it for people with disabilities and older persons-would equate to 9 percent of global GDP, or $11 trillion, if compensated, according to International Labour Organization estimates. In Latin America, UN estimates place this figure at 15.7-24.2 percent of GDP, underscoring the magnitude of economic output lost due to unpaid household labor. Oftentimes, it is women who provide this unpaid care.

These aren't just statistics-they represent millions of people sidelined from work, not by lack of ability or desire, but by the absence of support systems that would enable their participation.

The Weight of Disability-Related Costs on Households

"We have scenarios where mothers hide [their children] because they want to work," notes a community advocate in Uganda. "For instance, mothers of children with intellectual disability tie [their children] to a tree so she can go dig and earn."

These stories capture a broader reality across regions: families of persons with disabilities face immense financial, emotional, and social pressures, often with little support from their government or employers.

Persons with disabilities and their families incur substantial disability-related costs-both direct (assistive devices, therapy, specialized diets) and indirect (reduced work and educational opportunities). In Uganda, one mother summarized this simply: "The financial burden of raising a child with disabilities, including school fees, medical bills, and rent, creates significant challenges for single mothers".

Missed Work and Lost Income

In a World Bank survey of 114 mothers of children with disabilities in Kenya and Uganda, 77 percent of those who were not working said they wanted to find employment, yet few are able to. One mother from Kenya explained: "Having a job would be incredibly beneficial. It would allow me to earn a stable income to support my family while also enabling me to care for my child".

The caregiving demands are intense: 15 percent of mothers surveyed reported spending their entire days caregiving. Not surprisingly, these mothers were 1.9 times more likely to lose their jobs and 2.1 times more likely to quit than mothers of children without disabilities due to inflexible work schedules, medical emergencies, and other responsibilities.

"Often one parent may sacrifice their career to care for the child," notes a Kenyan government representative. The result is financial strain that prevents families from accessing childcare, education, food, medical care, assistive devices, and other essentials.

Limited Access to Childcare and Support

Formal childcare options are scarce and often unaffordable. In Kenya and Uganda, 71 percent of mothers of children with disabilities reported that childcare was unaffordable, compared with 44 percent of mothers of children without disabilities. Most paid childcare centers do not accept children with disabilities, and the few that do usually cost more.

"We normally give less priority to a disabled child. They are hard to deal with," admits a childcare provider in Kenya, highlighting the urgent need for training and inclusive practices.

Only 2.6 percent of mothers of children with disabilities in Kenya and Uganda reported receiving financial support from government services, citing complicated, bureaucratic, or restrictive programs.

A Global Pattern: Women Bearing the Burden

Across Latin America, the pattern is similar. Nearly 80 percent of all unpaid domestic care work is performed by women. In Bolivia and Costa Rica, households with a member with disabilities earn about 10 percent less income because women caregivers must give up or reduce paid work, reinforcing gender gaps in employment and wages.

The absence of reliable care systems sidelines millions from the labor market, costing economies the valuable talent, productivity, and growth reflected in GDP losses. Expanding access to professional caregiving, inclusive childcare, and financial support could lift millions out of poverty and recover this economic drag.

Toward More and Better Jobs Through Inclusive Care

Progress is possible-and it starts with recognizing care as both a social priority and an economic opportunity. Uruguay's National Integrated Care System, for example, coordinates services for children, older adults, and persons with disabilities, including a personal assistant program that reached more than 6,000 people with severe disabilities in 2024-75 percent of whom received full subsidies. Such initiatives support families, create professional care jobs, particularly for women, and strengthen local economies.

In East Africa, community advocates see similar potential. "Mothers of children with disabilities need access to small loans and vocational training to [...] pursue jobs that can be performed from home," one individual explains. Investing in inclusive childcare and professional caregiving can multiply these opportunities-freeing women to work, while creating a new generation of trained care workers in communities where jobs are scarce and poverty endemic.

Globally, the evidence is clear: when governments invest in care systems, they unlock new sources of employment and productivity.

This International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the message is one of empowerment and shared prosperity: by valuing care as essential work and supporting the families who provide it, countries can turn unpaid labor into paid opportunity, expand women's participation in the workforce, and ensure that no one is left behind. Inclusive care is not only a pathway to dignity-it is a pathway to more and better jobs, stronger households, and more resilient economies.