Trends in the Direct Care Workforce

publication

Author Information

Author(s): Kelly Christopher, Deichert Jerome

Primary Institution: University of Nebraska Omaha

Hypothesis

What are the trends among direct care workers in occupation and industry from 2020 to 2022?

Conclusion

The direct care workforce has shifted towards jobs requiring less training and away from residential care facilities, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting Evidence

The number of nursing assistants, psychiatric aides, and home health aides decreased by 5.8%.
The number of personal and home care aides decreased by 0.8%.
Nearly 1.9 million direct care workers were employed in home and community-based services.
There were increases in the number of direct care workers employed by outpatient care centers, hospitals, and individual and family services.
The largest decreases were in skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and private households.

Takeaway

The number of people working in certain care jobs has gone down, and many are now working in jobs that need less training.

Methodology

Data from the 2020-2022 American Community Survey was used to analyze trends among direct care workers.

Participant Demographics

Direct care workers were more likely to be female, under age 25, African American, and recently divorced.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.3163

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