The Ongoing Challenge: Attracting and Retaining Quality Staff

Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/the-ongoing-challenge-attracting-and-retaining-quality-staff/5007211/

I've always believed a little fresh blood was good for my center-but how do I cope with a complete transfusion every two years? - a director of 20 years

Across the country, one of the most pressing concerns for child care center directors is how to attract and retain quality staff. In some communities, the situation has reached crisis proportions. The recently released National Child Care Staffing Study reports an average annual turnover rate of 41% across all participating centers. These are sobering statistics given current projections that the need for caregivers will increase 40% over the next decade. Many believe we are on a "demographic collision course"-the supply of caregivers in the labor force simply cannot keep pace with the demand as more parents seek care for their children outside the home.

Moreover, with greater opportunities for women in the public schools as well as in other fields, many directors believe that not only is the pool of qualified candidates becoming increasingly competitive, but the individuals who are applying for jobs are not as committed to the field nor as well trained as they once were. "I want more than a warm body," says one director ...