Executive Vice President of Policy for PHI, Robert Espinoza, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about the work done by PHI with direct care workers. Espinoza also discussed enhancing support for immigrant direct care workers and the economic impact that these workers could have on America.
PHI works to transform eldercare and disability services to foster dignity, respect and independence for those that receive care and those that provide it. As the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, PHI promotes quality direct care jobs as the foundation for quality care and constantly seeks ways to improve the industry. Recently, PHI released a new report, Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Support for Immigrant Direct Care Workers and Meeting Long-Term Care Needs, detailing how to improve the direct care industry.
According to the new report, over 9 million direct care openings are projected between now and 2030. One year ago, this number was only 7 million, but due to turnover in the industry, the number of jobs needing to be filled increased. The workforce is critical, as these jobs are responsible for the work done in retirement homes and home healthcare. Currently, immigrant workers comprise nearly 27 percent of the industry, but they receive less support than they should, Espinoza said.
There are very few career options available for direct care workers. Policies to provide wage increases, advancement and educational opportunities must be passed to improve the industry, Espinoza said. To support immigrants, programs to help them navigate the system and receive citizenship must be added, he said. If these improvements are made, the immigrant workers will fill the gap and should assist in solving the workforce shortage.
Please press play on the show above to hear more about the direct care industry.
America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.
America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, American Alliance for Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North America, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Survey and Ballot Systems, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.
