A Dynamic Analysis of Informal Elder Caregiving and Employee Wellbeing

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between eldercare and employee subjective wellbeing. Employing a dynamic analysis of national panel data over ten waves in Australia, the study examines the intertemporal effects of lagged and current eldercare on subjective wellbeing, including general life and job satisfaction, satisfaction with free time, employment opportunities, work-life balance, job security, pay, and work hours. When the effects are statistically significant, eldercare provision tends to have a positive impact on employees’ subjective wellbeing, while eldercare intensity, as measured by the number of caring hours, has a negative impact. Our results also suggest the effects are heterogeneous across genders, part-time and full-time workers, and blue-collar and white-collar occupations.