More than half of mothers in the sandwich generation are leaving their jobs to fulfill caregiving responsibilities, a study by the University of Phoenix Career Institute and parenting platform Motherly found.
The sandwich generation refers to people who are between the ages of 30 and 40 that are responsible for taking care of their own children as well as their parents aged 65 or older.
In the latest entry in The Career Optimism Special Report Series titled “Mums in the Sandwich Generation,” it was revealed that about 51% of mothers who belonged to this employee segment had left their jobs in order to care for their children and their aging parents. About 55% of sandwich mums were also found to be living in a single-income household, showcasing an alarming lack of financial support that adds to their struggles.
University of Phoenix Chief Strategy and Customer Officer Ruth Veloria pointed out how the report revealed the realities of those who were part of the fastest-growing employee segment across demographics.
“This special report sheds light on the tough compromises many are forced to make and serves as a reminder that more thoughtful support systems are essential—not just to help caregivers stay connected to their careers, but to safeguard the long-term health and resilience of the workforce itself,” said Veloria.
“As more employees take on dual caregiving roles, overlooking these challenges could result in widespread attrition, disengagement, and lost leadership potential,” she added.
The report further found that 62% of sandwich mums said that having a career was a luxury for them and 52% admitted that their pay checks covered caregiving costs. About 64% also said that their PTO and sick time were dedicated for caregiving with 35% skipping networking or career-enhancing activities.
While certain benefits such as flexible work arrangements, caregiver leave, educational support, and AI-enabled caregiving resources and other tools may help in improving the retention and performance of those in the sandwich generation, there is still more that needs to be done.
“We need workplace systems that reflect the reality of modern caregiving, not just for mothers, but for the future of our workforce,” said Motherly co-founder Liz Tenety.