Background

State Statistics (see below for key to abbreviations)

PC/HC Aide = Personal Care/Home Care Aide HHA = Home Health Aide CNA = Certified Nursing Assistant -- These charts include numbers for the BLS occupational group "nursing aides, orderlies and attendants." Avg DCW = Average direct-care worker wages -- calculated as a weighted median United States and state abbreviations are used (ex: VT = Vermont)

The 65-plus population represent 13.1% of Wisconsin's total population (the national average is 12.4%). The U.S. Census estimates that by 2030 Wisconsin's elder population will increase by 86.8%. In the same period the traditional caregiving workforce (women aged 25 to 44) will decrease by 6.6%

Due to the increase in the elderly population, the need for health care workers will grow. Already, the health care industry is Wisconsin's largest employer, accounting for 10,000 job openings annually.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2006 68,170
nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care/home care aides worked in Wisconsin earning an average of $10.53 per hour. These numbers do not include many direct-care workers who are self-employed.

High turnover and vacancy rates for direct-care workers are a national problem. In Wisconsin, the turnover rate for nursing assistants in all nursing homes was 43% for full-time Nurse Aides and 61% for part-time Nurse Aides in 2003. The turnover rate for Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRFs) range from 60% to 143%.


Sources:
1) ''Strengthening Wisconsin's direct-care workforce'', Direct Care Workforce Issues Committee, 2005
2) ''Wisconsin nursing homes and residents'', DHFS, Bureau of Health Information, Division of Health Care finance, 2002