The Present State of the Personal Care Aide Industry:
Supply and Demand Imbalance
~On January 08, 2014 the United States Department of Labor/Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Occupational Outlook Handbook projections for 2012 - 2022. It ranked Personal Care Aides #1 - most new jobs, and # 2 - fastest growing occupation.
~“Employment of personal care aides is projected to grow 49 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. As the baby-boom population ages, there will be an increase in the number of clients requiring assistance or companionship.” DOL Publish Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2014.
~ “In fiscal year (FY) 2010, more than half of the states reported increased demands for home and community-based services (HCBS), that help older people live in their homes and communities. The shift in public policy under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act toward more HCBS and away from nursing home care—which is what most elderly individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities want - also contributes to an increasing reliance on both family and non-family caregivers.” (AARP Public Policy Institute Research Report, January 2011, re Caregiving, p 9/10 of 28)
Accordingly…as the geriatric population rapidly expands in the USA, so grows the demand for honest, well-trained, dedicated caregivers. Unfortunately, there simply aren’t enough qualified caregivers to meet present demands. This supply-demand imbalance creates the perfect storm for the continued rise of unmet needs.
Hence, PCA training prepares learners to fill a strong job market calling.
Because regional economic development is bolstered when employment opportunity is met by a skilled labor force, PCA training meets, absolutely, the criteria for most community economic development plans.
Unemployment and underemployment in the young adult segment of our population, particularly amongst those with limited education, English language skills deficiency and/or minority membership, is a national concern. However, these categorizations do not preclude achievement of excellence in PCA learning or implementation of caregiver services.
Finally, minority recipients of home care services are amongst the most underserved, rendering culturally diverse caregivers a valuable asset to the communities in which they serve.
Overall, PCA training expands the cultural boundaries of our healthcare system and offers minorities, women, and young learners an opportunity to sample the care industry and aspire to greater professional development in healthcare services, i.e. nursing, pharmacy, etc.