HELP WANTED: A FUTURE FOR HAWAII’S HOME CARE AIDES

News Release from FACE Hawaii

“Right now, home care is one of the fastest-growing industries in America, partly because we’re getting older as a society. And as the baby boom generation heads into retirement, more and more Americans are going to need the services of these outstanding workers…

Many home care workers are forced to rely on things like food stamps just to make ends meet. That’s just wrong. In this country, it’s inexcusable. I can tell you firsthand that these men and women, they work their tails off, and they don’t complain. They deserve to be treated fairly.They deserve to be paid fairly for a service that many older Americans couldn’t live without.” -President Barack Obama, December 15, 2011

Here are some of the findings:

• Home Care Aide is projected to be the fastest growing occupation in every county in Hawaii through 2018.
• Home Care Aides earn thousands less per year than other entry-level jobs like housekeeper, janitor, and dishwasher.
• Wages for Home Care Aides in Hawaii fell last year to the lowest wages for Home Care Aides in the Western region of the US.

See the link for the study report: FACE Home Care Aide Report FINAL

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SA: Isle home care aides' wages lowest among Pacific states

FACE: Hawaii's Highest Growth Job Sector Falling Behind Rest of Country in Pay