Elderly care worker shortage getting worse
A new study by a company that tracks job openings points to a major problem in the healthcare industry.
Burning Glass Technologies finds a huge gap when it comes to the tight supply of skilled workers versus a growing demand.
Nowhere is that more true, than when it comes to caring for the elderly, especially over the next several decades.
The study on the skills gap finds more than a million openings in the healthcare industry that have no workers to fill them.
And as the number of senior citizens nearly doubles from 48 to 88 million over the next 30 years, there’s a growing fear that the need for retirement home workers will not come close to being met.
I’m just really concerned that they’re not going to have the people to take care of everyone in the facilities that are needed,” said Cathy Biggerstaff in Spartanburg.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates more than a million extra nursing assistants will be needed within 6 years. That’s a 26% increase over 2014.
“The need is really great and it’s just growing,” said Josie Flanagan the Executive Director of Windsor House Assisted Living in Spartanburg.
She says job retention can be problematic in a field where the work is as intense as it is rewarding. As a registered nurse, she sees first hand how desperate facilities are for skilled labor.
“You get recruiters and head-hunters coming out of left field from all parts of the country and the world looking to hire you. They’ll offer $10,000 relocation packages. They’ll offer housing. I mean, it is crunch time,” she said.
Many homes and healthcare companies are now sweetening the pot, paying for schooling and extra certifications.
But people who don’t want to burden family later in life, can’t help but worry.
“What are these people going to do, I mean, what are we going to do,” said Biggerstaff. Read more…