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From Crisis to Emergency: 8.2 Million Direct Care Job Openings Expected by 2028

Fact Sheet
January 21, 2020
From Crisis to Emergency: 8.2 Million Direct Care Job Openings Expected by 2028

This fact sheet shows that from 2018 to 2028, the direct care workforce will add 1.3 million jobs, and an additional 6.9 million jobs will become vacant as existing workers leave the field or exit the labor force.

Key Takeaways

Combining job growth and separations, nearly 8.2 million total direct care job openings are anticipated from 2018 to 2028.
From 2018 to 2028, the direct care workforce is expected to add 1.3 million jobs—more new jobs than in the second and third U.S. occupations with the most job growth combined.
The direct care workforce nearly doubled within the last decade, from 2.9 million workers in 2008 to almost 4.5 million in 2018.
 
Kezia Scales, PhD (she/her)
About The Author

Kezia Scales, PhD (she/her)

Vice President of Research & Evaluation
Kezia Scales leads PHI’s strategy for building the evidence base on state and national policies and workforce interventions that improve direct care jobs, elevate this essential workforce, and strengthen care processes and outcomes.

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