November 12, 2021 – Long term facilities are suffering from the worst labor crisis and job loss than any other healthcare sector, according to a new report from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), which represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and assisted living communities across the country.
Nursing homes alone have seen its industry’s employment level drop by 14% or 221,000 jobs since the beginning of the pandemic, the report shows.
Hospitals, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers and other healthcare facilities have reached or surpassed pre-pandemic staffing levels, but nursing homes and assisted living communities are still experiencing substantial job losses according to the latest October employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Comparing the latest BLS employment data released last week with pre-pandemic employment back in March 2020 shows nursing homes have lost the most jobs than any other healthcare sector.
AHCA/NCAL released a survey of long term care providers earlier this year showing that the labor crisis is worsening and impacting access to care for vulnerable seniors:
- 86% of nursing homes and 77% of assisted living providers said their workforce situation has gotten worse in recent months
- 58% of nursing homes are limiting new admissions
- 78% of nursing homes and 61% of assisted living communities are concerned workforce challenges might force them to close