‘We are somewhat invisible’: Why home care work is so hard—and so critical

Despite being one of the most common jobs in the U.S., home care work is often physically taxing and poorly paid. But many care workers still find purpose—and a viable career path—in the field.

It might come as little surprise that working in retail or fast food ranks as one of the most common jobs in the U.S. But there’s another industry that also employs nearly 3.7 million workers across the country: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS), home health and personal care aides dominate across the U.S., particularly in states with aging populations or those that attract retirees, like California.