In the midst of a global staffing crisis, many industries are struggling with poor retention rates and high employee turnover. However, in some fields, such as the caregiving industry, a lack of staff could have catastrophic consequences.
After all, the shortages mean that there simply aren’t enough staff on hand to provide each resident with the care they need and deserve. In some cases, this means that some of their most basic needs are neglected. The remaining staff are also more prone to stress and burnout as they attempt to pick up the bulk of work.
As a result, it’s clear that interventions must be put in place to ensure that care standards do not slip.
Why is there a staffing crisis in the caregiving industry?
An Aging Population.
Issues with retention and turnover in the caregiving industry are not only a problem in Canada — but across the globe. This can largely be attributed to the fact, “every country in the world is experiencing growth in both the size and the proportion of older persons in the population.”
The reason for the aging population boom in Canada is clear. Firstly, the baby boomer generation was the largest in Canadian history, born during a time “when fertility levels were higher, almost reaching four children per woman.” Access to healthcare and a generally improved quality of life also means that people are living longer.
Life expectancy in Canada “increased by almost seven years between 1980 and 2020, and is projected to continue to increase in the upcoming decades.” This means that the pressure on healthcare facilities will continue to grow.
A lack of carers.
However, as the demand for these services rises, the number of people in the roles continues to shrink. Many people are dissuaded from pursuing a career in caring as it is often associated with long working hours, high-stress levels, and low pay.
Currently, the median pay for a carer is an hourly rate of $14.56 per hour — which is a far cry from the pay earned by similar vocational roles, such as nursing, where a registered nurse receives $37.31 per hour. As a result, it’s hardly surprising that those who may have had an initial interest in caregiving choose to look elsewhere.
Furthermore, many of those involved within the industry do not stick around long-term. A recent study found that:
18% want to leave their jobs.
14% are hoping to switch to a new industry
4% looking to quit within the next four months.
What can be done to mitigate this crisis?
In order to mitigate this crisis within Canada, recruiters must find a way to encourage people to pursue the profession. This can be achieved by offering better salaries, schedules, or workplace benefits.
However, it’s also important to note that hiring foreign talent can help with the Canadian labor shortage. This is due to the simple fact that Canada needs workers, and there is an entire community of people ready and willing to work.
There are many refugees, asylum seekers, and foreign workers currently engaged within the healthcare sector. With them, they bring a wealth of practical experience and skills that help improve care standards in facilities across the country. In fact, there’s even a pathway in place for refugee health workers to obtain permanent residence within Canada as a result of this.
“At Joblio, our ongoing working relationship with companies such as Chartwell Retirement Residences and Sienna Senior Living, allow us to make it easier for employers within the healthcare sector (and beyond) to connect with people who are actively looking for work and want to make a difference,” said Jon Purizhansky, CEO and Founder of Joblio.
“We’re already embedded in migrant communities within Canada, and can help you source your ideal candidate in no time.”
To find out more about Joblio, please do not hesitate to get in touch today