Service Provider Hiring Challenges Survey

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We see in the news the nationwide hiring and retention challenges facing businesses. We wanted to get an idea of how it’s impacting our local developmental disability service system and the clients we serve through a Hiring Challenges Survey. We are planning on running this same survey again in six months to compare the results.

Summary:

185 respondents, representing 46 service codes and all ten counties.

  1. Most respondents (38%) indicated that they lost 0-20% of staff from program during the last year of pandemic; the second largest group of respondents (~34%) lost 21-40% of staff.
    • Of programs that lost 61-100% of staff, 16/19 were residential (2/3 of ARFs, 1/3 of children’s, all ICFs).
  2. Prior to COVID, 85% of programs lost 0-20% of their staff each year; 10% of programs lost 21-40% of staff each year.
  3.  Most respondents (46%) indicated that 0-20% of staff positions are currently unfilled.
    • Of respondents with 41-100% vacant shifts, most (46/49) were residential services.
  4. Most respondents (84%) indicated that starting wages are “very important” in filling available positions.
  5.  Location – Half of respondents (50%) indicated that location is either “very important” or “moderately important” in filling available positions.
  6. Most respondents (55%) indicated that benefits are “very important” to fill positions.
  7. Respondents indicated that the top three reasons that staff stay in their jobs are:
    • Feeling supported, respected, and appreciated
    • Making a difference
    • Work Schedule
      • Wages/compensation was 6th out of 7!
  8. Most respondents (49%) indicated that they definitely or probably would utilize a paid staffing recruitment service.
  9. Respondents indicated that prior to COVID, staff tended to stay more than 5 years 38.6% of the time (more than any other length of time). More than 60% had staff stay longer than 3 years.
  10. Only 29% of respondents reported they had to cancel services 40-100% of the time. This questions appears to have been answered inconsistently by day program providers, so data may not be helpful.