New Report Reveals Importance of Immigrants in Arizona’s Elderly Care Industry

According to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute and The Arizona Republic, immigrants are overrepresented in the elderly care industry, which in Arizona is already facing a staffing crisis. As the state’s population continues to age and the proportion of immigrants in the population declines, that crisis could continue to deepen.

Key stats

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According to US Census Bureau data, in 2010, 13.4% of Arizona’s population and 17.7% of its working-age population were immigrants. In 2022, those figures had fallen to 13.1% and 17%, respectively.

Overrepresented

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The Migration Policy Institute estimated that immigrants make up about 16% of Arizona’s workforce — but roughly 25% of direct care workers are immigrants.

Growing problem

The MPI also estimated that Arizona’s population of people over 65 grew by 56% between 2010 and 2022. In comparison, the state’s overall population grew by just 15% during the same time period.

The big issue

Due to these population trends, the MPI calculated that the need for direct care workers in Arizona will grow 40% by 2031. In comparison, total employment growth will be about 17%.

Why so many immigrants?

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Direct care work can be done without a degree, highly specialized skills, or even fluent English. As the MPI also noted, many care jobs operate under the table, which is attractive to unauthorized immigrants who often can’t access jobs in the formal economy.

Major issue

One of the main sources of the staffing problem is the poor working conditions many direct care workers have to endure. According to a 2021 report by PHI, the median hourly wage for a paid caregiver was $12. In 2009, the wage was $13, when adjusted for inflation.

Struggling to survive

According to the PHI report, almost half of all paid caregivers live in or near poverty. More than half rely on public assistance to survive.

Looming crisis

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“Without intervention,” the PHI report warned, “the paid caregiver crisis will worsen in Arizona.” It predicted the state would have to fill well over 100,000 paid caregiver job openings between 2016 and 2026.

Tough conditions

Paid caregiving is also challenging work, both physically and emotionally. “It’s very beautiful work,” one caregiver called Marlene Carrasco told USA Today. “At the same time, it’s sad.” When elderly clients pass away, “it hurts. It hurts because we become very attached.”

Clear signs

“The US population is aging,” an analyst at the MPI told USA Today. “People live longer. And the population in need of these services is growing.”

Not considering fixes

Without considerable federal immigration reform, the caregiving crisis seems doomed to worsen. “It’s not in our national policy conversation because immigration reform is just nowhere on the table,” a director at the MPI explained.

Major issues

Without reforms, many caregivers will remain undocumented. That increases the risk that they will be taken advantage of.

Abuse risk

The prevalence of undocumented workers could also increase the risk of elder abuse and liability issues. For example, if an unauthorized worker — who does not qualify for health insurance programs like Medicaid, in Arizona at least — is injured on the job, who is liable?

Critical job

As Arizona’s population continues to age, caregivers will become all the more important. As Carrasco explained, they can be the difference between elderly people being home alone all day or having company that can help them not only perform basic tasks but maintain independence through exercises.

Many ways to help

Carrasco does her client’s laundry, feeds them, takes them to appointments, helps them wash, puts them through exercises to keep them fit, updates family members, and performs a number of other vital tasks that improve the quality of life for elderly people.