A number of factors have contributed to growing prevalence of these couples in the workforce. With the increase in life expectancy, there are more older adults overall and a corresponding increase in the care needs of the aged. Skyrocketing health care costs cause an increased reliance on families to provide this care. Later childbearing means that the care needs of the younger and older generations are more likely to overlap. Children are also returning to the home due to more adult children pursuing graduate degrees. In addition, with the aging of the population, the median age of the workforce is also rising. These various factors contribute to an increased probability that workers will face parent care demands in addition to responsibilities for dependent children as they themselves are aging.
Another demographic trend that exacerbates the stressors faced by sandwiched generation couples is the growing participation of women in the workforce, which has led to such changes in the family as an increase in the number of dual-earner couples, the redistribution of traditional gender role responsibilities, and an increase in the interdependency between work and family. As female labor participation has grown, so too has concern for the groups traditionally cared for by women; elders and children. Women have been those most likely to care for children and aging parents.
Another demographic trend that exacerbates the stressors faced by sandwiched generation couples is the growing participation of women in the workforce, which has led to such changes in the family as an increase in the number of dual-earner couples, the redistribution of traditional gender role responsibilities, and an increase in the interdependency between work and family. As female labor participation has grown, so too has concern for the groups traditionally cared for by women; elders and children. Women have been those most likely to care for children and aging parents.