GET THE FACTS
Florida’s long term care workforce is facing a labor crisis, with workforce levels at the lowest they've been since 1994.
With an increasing aging population, the need for investments and tailored, supportive policies to address who will care for Florida’s elders has never been more critical.
Florida's aging population
Persons aged 65 and older currently make up about 20% of Florida’s population.
By 2030, more than one in four Floridians will be part of this age group.
Florida adds a quarter-million additional residents each year through 2030, and the majority of these new residents – 57% of them – will be age 60 and older.
Florida needs more nurses and long-term caregivers
Long term care employers will need to fill 235,000 job openings in direct care from 2020 to 2030, including 25,000 new jobs to meet rising demand, and another 210,000 job openings to replace workers who leave the labor force or transfer to new occupations.
Today, half the number of individuals are testing to become CNAs, compared to 10 years ago.
Only 40% of Licensed Practical Nurses work in elder care.
Less than 10% of Registered Nurses work in elder care.
Increasing labor costs and inflation have left nursing centers with little resources to make additional investments in their staff and compete for workers. According to the FHCA survey, nursing centers are experiencing the following:
Over 50% are paying increased unsustainable wages to meet workforce needs.
Nearly 80% are struggling with the ability to offer competitive pay.
Almost half are operating their care center at a loss.
Two thirds are having difficulties finding qualified candidates to fill vacancies.
Long-term care providers need assistance
50% said their ability to recruit and retain staff is extremely challenging.
91% had to ask staff to work overtime or take extra shifts to meet residents’ care needs.
50% were forced to use temporary staff through an agency.
22% of nursing centers have had to reduce admissions because of staffing challenges.
Source: 2023 Florida Department of Health, Health Care Worker Statistics
2023 Florida Health Care Association, 2023 Membership Survey
2022 Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Florida Action Plan on Aging
2022 PHI, Workforce Data Center
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