- The report positions care as a labour‑intensive, low‑capital sector with the potential to generate over 60 million jobs by 2030.
- It maps 13 distinct paid care personas across varying skill and formality levels, outlining clear pathways for skilling, certification, and wage progression.
- It urges coordinated policy action to formalise care work and embed it within India’s broader employment and social infrastructure.
National | January 5, 2026: Primus Partners has released a groundbreaking report, “The Care Economy Boom: A $300 Billion Opportunity Set to Generate Over 60 Million Care Jobs by 2030”, positioning care services as one of India’s most under‑recognized yet high‑potential economic sectors.
The report highlights rising demand for childcare, eldercare, disability support, rehabilitation, mental health, wellness, and long‑term care, noting that while the sector already employs 36 million workers, it remains largely outside formal economic planning. With targeted investments in skilling, certification, formalisation, and demand creation, India’s care workforce could expand beyond 60 million by 2030, creating a sector valued at $300 billion.
Key Insights from the Report:
- High‑Employment Potential: Care services are labour‑intensive, locally delivered, and resilient to automation.
- Persona Mapping: 13 distinct paid care personas identified across skill and formality levels, from entry‑level domestic help to skilled nursing assistants and counsellors.
- Gendered Nature of Care: Women form the backbone of India’s care economy, yet much of their work remains informal and unprotected.
- Policy Imperative: Calls for coordinated action to formalise care work and integrate it into India’s employment and social infrastructure.
- NURTURE Framework: Mission‑led governance, standardised skilling, regulatory clarity, technology platforms, social protection, and demand creation.
Nilaya Varma, Group CEO, Primus Partners, said: “Care is now essential economic infrastructure, yet largely invisible in policy. By mapping 13 care personas, this report shows how formalisation can turn care into a major engine of jobs and growth.”
Prof. Sanjay Zodpey, President, Public Health Foundation of India, added: “As care shifts from hospitals to homes, skilling and certifying the care workforce will be critical to both health outcomes and employment.”
Dr. Meenakshi Hembram, DGHS, Government of NCT of Delhi, emphasized: “Women form the backbone of India’s care economy, yet much of this work remains informal and unprotected. Formalisation, fair wages, and access to social security are essential to building a more equitable care system.”
Prof. V. K. Malhotra, Chairman, Food Commission of Madhya Pradesh, noted: “The care economy is emerging as a significant source of employment and economic value. Formalising and upskilling caregivers can unlock productivity gains and create sustainable growth.”
Dr. Pramod K., Chief Executive, Alliance India, said: “India’s care workforce is central to managing long‑term health needs. A structured care economy can improve health outcomes while creating dignified jobs.”
Impact & Policy Context
The report underscores that the Union Budget and upcoming policy cycles present a critical opportunity to reposition care from the margins of welfare to the centre of India’s employment and growth strategy.
