When families do not have access to support for caring for persons with disabilities, economies lose out on significant growth. The International Labour Organization estimates that if unpaid care work—much of it provided for people with disabilities and older adults—were compensated, it would equal 9 percent of global GDP, or $11 trillion. In Latin America, United Nations figures suggest this number could be as high as 24.2 percent of GDP.
These numbers represent millions who are unable to participate in the workforce due to a lack of support systems. Women are most often the ones providing this unpaid care.
A community advocate in Uganda described the challenges faced by mothers: “We have scenarios where mothers hide [their children] because they want to work. For instance, mothers of children with intellectual disability tie [their children] to a tree so she can go dig and earn.”
Families supporting persons with disabilities face both direct costs (such as therapy and assistive devices) and indirect costs (like reduced job opportunities). One Ugandan mother said: “The financial burden of raising a child with disabilities, including school fees, medical bills, and rent, creates significant challenges for single mothers.”
A World Bank survey conducted among 114 mothers of children with disabilities in Kenya and Uganda found that 77 percent of those not working wanted employment but had limited options. One Kenyan mother 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.” Caregiving demands were high; 15 percent reported spending all day caregiving. These women were nearly twice as likely to lose or quit their jobs compared to mothers without disabled children.
A Kenyan government representative observed: “Often one parent may sacrifice their career to care for the child.” This leads families into financial hardship that limits access to essentials such as childcare and medical care.
Formal childcare is often unaffordable or unavailable for families with disabled children in Kenya and Uganda; 71 percent reported childcare was too expensive compared with 44 percent among other families. Most paid centers do not accept children with disabilities or charge higher fees when they do.
A Kenyan childcare provider acknowledged: “We normally give less priority to a disabled child. They are hard to deal with,” highlighting the need for better training and inclusive practices.
Only 2.6 percent of surveyed mothers received government financial support due to complicated or restrictive programs.
Across Latin America, women perform nearly 80 percent of unpaid domestic care work. In Bolivia and Costa Rica, households with disabled members earn about 10 percent less because women caregivers must reduce paid work hours or leave jobs altogether.
The absence of reliable care systems keeps many out of the labor market, limiting economic productivity reflected in lost GDP potential. Expanding professional caregiving services could help recover these losses by allowing more people—especially women—to enter paid employment.
Uruguay’s National Integrated Care System offers an example by coordinating services for vulnerable groups through initiatives like its personal assistant program which reached over 6,000 people in 2024; most received full subsidies. Such efforts create jobs in caregiving while supporting families’ needs.
Community advocates in East Africa see similar opportunities: “Mothers of children with disabilities need access to small loans and vocational training [...] pursue jobs that can be performed from home,” one individual said.
Global evidence shows that investing in care systems creates new employment opportunities and boosts productivity across economies.
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, advocates emphasize that recognizing care as essential work can transform unpaid labor into paid opportunity, increase women’s workforce participation, strengthen households, and build more resilient economies. As stated in the release: Inclusive care is not only a pathway to dignity—it is a pathway to more and better jobs, stronger households, and more resilient economies.