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Direct Care Worker Wages

Publication Date

Direct care workers (DCWs) such as nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care assistants play an essential role in the health and well-being of over 20 million Americans. Yet DCW wages are not enough to make jobs competitive with entry level positions in other industries with similar job requirements which exacerbates the challenges in recruitment and retention of these workers. Many DCWs are lost to other sectors that offer similar wages but more flexible schedules, more hours, and other benefits. Some states have tried to address these issues by implementing policies aimed at improving DCW wages. The purpose of this study was to explore state policies for improving compensation for DCWs, the key elements of policies, and the results of those policies.

This research was conducted under contract #HHSP233201500039I between HHS/ASPE’s Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) and Research Triangle Institute. Additional research in this area is available at the ASPE Long-Term Services & Supports/Long-Term Care page.

*This content is in the process of Section 508 review. If you need immediate assistance accessing this content, please submit a request to Brenda Veazey, brenda.veazey@hhs.gov. Content will be updated pending the outcome of the Section 508 review.

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