Report: 900,000 More Home Care Workers Needed By 2031

A recent report from PHI, a New York-based direct care workers advocacy organization, highlights significant challenges faced by the growing direct care workforce in the United States. While the industry is expected to experience substantial growth over the next decade, issues such as low wages persist, exacerbating recruitment and retention problems within the home care industry. The research reveals that despite some wage growth due to state and federal investments in Medicaid funding, wage growth has slowed significantly, with the median hourly wage for direct care workers increasing by only $0.07 per hour in 2021 and $0.02 per hour in 2022.

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Despite these challenges, the home care workforce is projected to add more than 900,000 new positions from 2021 to 2031, outpacing growth in any other occupation in the country. However, the industry also faces high turnover. To address these issues, experts suggest that home care employers need to consider not only compensation but also factors like healthcare coverage, childcare support, adequate training, advancement opportunities, and building a strong culture that supports and values their workers.

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For additional information on the report, click HERE.