Seoul: South Korea is projected to face a shortage of nearly 1 million care workers 20 years from now amid the country's rapidly aging population, a government report showed Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the report released by the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy indicates that the number of people aged 85 and older, who typically require intensive care, is expected to more than triple from 1.13 million in March 2024 to 3.72 million by 2045.
In contrast, the total number of certified caregivers is projected to increase gradually to the low-800,000 range by the mid-2030s. However, this figure is expected to decline thereafter as the number of core workforce members, particularly women in their 50s and 60s, begins to shrink.
To maintain the current caregiver-to-senior ratio of 1 to 1.5-1.9, an additional 990,000 care workers will be required by 2043, as detailed in the report.
In response to the growing imbalance between care demand and workforce supply, the government announced plans to pursue dual measures aimed at both easing care needs and expanding the caregiver workforce.