September marks National Workforce Development Month—a time LeadingAge will spotlight the variety of job and career opportunities aging services organizations offer and the critical role these professionals play in our country’s care infrastructure—and also bring thought leaders together to focus on apprenticeship strategies as part of the solution to the ongoing workforce crisis.

Americans are living longer and healthier lives, so the share of the population of adults age 65+ is expected to grow by more than 5% (16% to 21.6%) by 2040. Research shows that more than half will need formal long-term care and services at some point in their life. This demographic shift is significant for a nation with a severe workforce shortage that is hitting the aging services sector particularly hard. 

“There is no issue more pressing than workforce in aging services today,” said LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan. “The dedicated professionals supporting and caring for older adults are the heart of aging services, and we are committed to finding new, strategic ways to build the pipeline of qualified employees for our nonprofit and mission-driven members.”

LeadingAge’s ongoing advocacy through the Aging Services Workforce Now campaign presses for immediate investment in the aging services workforce—reminding Congress that without staff, there is no care. Without strong federal support for a living wage, training and opportunities to recruit and retain qualified staff, a pipeline for building the workforce, and reform to long-term care finance, access to care and services for older adults and families continue to be limited.

During National Workforce Development Month, LeadingAge will focus on apprenticeship strategies as part of the solution to address the ongoing workforce crisis and drive system change by bringing together an expert panel for a virtual event on September 26. The discussion, “Apprenticeships: Build Your Team and Strengthen the Aging Services Workforce,” will address the ways apprenticeships can grow the workforce—develop highly skilled workers, reduce turnover, increase productivity, and offer a pathway to career advancement. 

“We support our members adopting numerous workforce strategies to meet their current challenges,” said Jenna Kellerman, LeadingAge workforce strategies and solutions director. “With an influx of creative solutions to bolster the aging services sector—starting with programs to recruit, train, and retain a highly skilled workforce—our nation can ensure we all thrive as we age.”

Our members know there is more than one path to a meaningful and stable career in the sector—from nursing and environmental services to finance and marketing executives—all of which make a positive difference in the lives of others in their community. 

Our communications and marketing team released a toolkit of turnkey resources for members, resulting in a healthy sprinkling of social media shout-outs for individuals in diverse career paths across member organizations. The national-local coordinated campaign elevates both the range of job opportunities in aging services and the dedicated workers who fill them—an important effort as the sector needs to continue growing to meet the care demand of a rapidly aging population.

LeadingAge members benefit from our training and education, leadership development programs and an array of workforce tools and resources. One important resource, Opening Doors to the Aging Services Workforce, confirmed potential employees are interested in performing the essential duties in aging services organizations, but awareness of the opportunities may be low. That’s why we’re lifting them up throughout National Workforce Development Month.