Unpaid Household Work in U.S. Valued at $5.6 Trillion, GAO Finds
The Government Accountability Office estimates that unpaid domestic labor in the United States is worth about $5.6 trillion, making it the world’s third-largest economy.
A recent Government Accountability Office report places the economic value of unpaid household work and caregiving in the United States at about $5.6 trillion, ranking it as the third-largest economy worldwide. Including secondary childcare raises the total to over $7 trillion. The agency applied a replacement-wage rate of $70 per day, though scholars argue actual market costs are higher, particularly for women who perform marginally more unpaid labor.
COVID-19 and the expansion of remote work have increased public awareness of home production, while a growing elderly population is expanding elder-care demands. The study, requested by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, seeks to provide a fuller picture of economic activity and could influence policies such as caregiver tax credits. Researchers hope that greater visibility of this work will help address persistent gender disparities in the labor market.
Why it matters
Highlighting the massive value of unpaid home work could reshape economic statistics and inform policies on caregiving and gender equity.
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