Personal Support Workers

The Growing Need for Personal Support Workers

Why Canada Needs Personal Support Workers

Canada, like most of the developing world, is facing an unprecedented demographic shift.

Never before in human history has such a large percentage of the population been over retirement age. Advances in medical technology and declining birth rates mean that senior citizens will continue to increase as a proportion of the population for the predictable future.

In Ontario alone, the percentage of people aged 65 or more is likely to increase from 15% to 23% in the next twenty years alone.

This is causing a crisis in health care. Until recently, our health care system was oriented towards interventionist medicine.

The interventionist model is:

  1. Normally healthy patient has a problem
  2. A doctor diagnoses and treats the problem
  3. The person takes the appropriate medication and exits the health care system

To this end, the government overpaid doctors, who are needed for interventions.

Now, however, the government knows that the medicine we need as a society is continuing care. Doctor salaries are being frozen to free up resources for nurses and personal support workers, who can provide ongoing care to patients.

Job Prospects for Personal Support Workers

Right now, there are about 80,000 personal support worker jobs in Ontario.

Of these, about 6000 are in hospitals, 35,000 are in-home care, and the remaining majority are in long-term care. This makes personal support work about as large an industry as all of Ontario agriculture. And it’s growing. Fast.

The government has added a couple thousand personal support worker jobs over the last two years.

Right now, they’re gearing up to add a lot more. By a conservative estimate, the number of needed personal support workers will double in the next 10 years. Just to stay on top of demand, the government will need to hire an additional 8,000 workers every single year.

That is a staggering number, and the government will have to pull out all the stops to make it happen. Expect higher wages and benefits, designed to attract out-of-province workers. Expect also a lot more support and ongoing education for employed personal support workers. The government wants you, and they’re going to have to work to keep you.

PSW Wage Increases

Wages are already going up. In 2012, a typical salary for a personal support worker in home care was $12/hour, and a typical salary in a hospital was $20. These numbers are now $15 and $23, respectively. 10% annual raises are the new normal, and will continue well into the future.

If you want a high chance of well-paid employment, apply to learn personal care skills today!

About Cestar College’s PSW Program

By applying to Cestar College’s Personal Support Worker (PSW) program, you’re choosing:

  • One of the most comprehensive Personal Support Worker curriculums in Ontario, covering all aspects of healthcare available to PSW graduates.
  • 700 hours of learning, including 200 hours of Clinical Placement and 110 hours of Facility Placement, giving you the benefits of real-life work experience while still in school.
  • A campus conveniently located in Toronto, providing students with access to every amenity possible.
  • Small class sizes that foster discussion-based education and provide a welcoming learning environment for all students.
  • Dedicated instructors with years of experience who take pride in seeing their students succeed.
  • A challenging but rewarding learning experience full of support from all Cestar College faculty and administrators.

For more information about our program, visit our program page today!

Have any questions for us?

Please feel free to contact us. One of our representatives will be happy to assist you!

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