Personal Care Aides

Employment opportunities for personal care aides will be excellent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), growing much faster than the average for all careers. The increasing number of senior citizens will create strong demand for aides. The Administration on Aging reports that in 2000, the senior population (those 65 and over) was approximately 35 million. It predicts that the number of senior citizens will rise steadily and increase to approximately 72.1 million by 2030. Additionally, the DOL reports that “elderly clients and people with disabilities are increasingly relying on home care as an alternative to nursing homes or hospitals. Families may prefer to keep aging family members in their homes rather than in nursing homes or hospitals. Clients who need help with everyday tasks and household chores, rather than medical care, may be able to reduce their medical expenses by staying in or returning to their homes.”

There is high turnover in this field as a result of the low pay and the sometimes emotionally and physically demanding work conditions. This will create many job opportunities for aides during the next decade.