Care Economy Workers Burned Out by Stagnant Wages and Understaffing
Canada's care economy workforce is facing a burnout crisis due to stagnant wages and understaffing, according to a new report from United Way Centraide Canada.
The report found that community services workers earn approximately 31% less than the economy-wide average, and vacancies in core community-care occupations have risen by 140% since 2015.
Anita Khanna, vice-president of government relations and public policy at UWCC, likened these workers to social first responders, saying 'They're on the front lines of community-level challenges... whether homelessness, the opioid crisis, gender-based violence, mental health challenges and poverty.'
The report highlights that this perfect storm of high need, high complexity, low wages, and understaffing is leading to burnout among workers. In fact, 26% of workers surveyed said they might leave their jobs in six months due to burnout.