By Erin McDermott
Across Pennsylvania, aging services providers are posting job openings faster than they can fill them. This Workforce Development Month, we need to shine a light on one of the most pressing challenges facing Pennsylvania: the need to strengthen and expand our aging services workforce.
Pennsylvania is among the 10 oldest states in the nation, and by 2030, one in five residents will be aged 65 and older, a shift that will dramatically increase demand for care and support, even as the supply of trained professionals lags behind.
A recent workforce survey conducted by LeadingAge PA, in collaboration with the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, revealed that more than half of nursing homes have more than 10 open positions. Collectively, providers reported needing more than 1,700 additional certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and nearly 900 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) just to meet current needs and admit more residents safely.
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry projects that every year through 2032, the commonwealth will need nearly 9,000 additional registered nurses and more than 11,000 additional nursing assistants to replace those leaving the field and to meet rising demand. It is also important to remember these communities rely on a wide range of roles. From activities coordinators and dietary aides to administrators, facility maintenance and social workers, the workforce needed to support older adults touches nearly every profession.
In short, this is not just a workforce shortage; it is a care crisis.
Behind every unfilled position is an older adult waiting for support, a family under strain and staff stretched to their limit. The people who make aging services possible are essential to the health, dignity and well-being of older Pennsylvanians. We cannot wait until the system buckles under the pressure.
At LeadingAge PA, we are working to strengthen the workforce pipeline through new initiatives like our recently launched Career Center. As part of our Careers to Love campaign, the Career Center connects aging services providers with high-quality candidates across various roles, including health care, hospitality, administration and leadership.
Job seekers can explore opportunities at every level of experience, whether they are new to the field or seasoned professionals. Importantly, proceeds from postings are reinvested into the LeadingAge PA Foundation’s education fund, which provides scholarships and supports career development for individuals pursuing work in this sector.
However, the responsibility does not rest solely on providers and the association. Lawmakers, educators and community leaders must prioritize this as a critical public need. That means investing in training and education programs, creating pathways for career advancement and recognizing aging services as an area in which meaningful, purpose-driven careers can flourish.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has announced the release of $75 million to support staff through training and tuition reimbursement. Furthering this progress, we urge the PA General Assembly and the governor to enact Senate Bills 114, 115 and 116 to remove barriers and improve access to a career in aging services. Together, we can send a powerful message: Do work that matters. Few careers offer the same opportunity to make a direct, lasting impact on someone’s life.
For job seekers, now is the time to explore the many opportunities in this sector. From nursing to hospitality, from administration to therapy, aging services is a field where compassion meets professionalism and where every role contributes to the quality of life for older adults in Pennsylvania.
Workforce Development Month should serve as more than a moment of recognition. It should be a call to action. Without deliberate investment and collective effort, Pennsylvania risks facing a much deeper crisis in the years ahead.
By acting now, through recruitment, training and support for those already serving, we can build a workforce that is ready to meet the needs of today and tomorrow.
To learn more about careers in aging services, visit CareersToLovePA.org.