The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19: Low Wages and Racial Disparities

Abstract

There is a critical shortage of direct support pro­fessionals (DSPs) who support people with intel­lectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live in the community. This shortage has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. DSPs support people in a variety of areas (e.g., employment, daily living, relationships, and health) and their work involves a high level of skill. However, the high-skilled and varied nature of this work is not reflected in DSPs’ wages, which remain low. A high level of responsibility for providing supports to people with significant support needs paired with low wages has likely contributed to the high turnover (42.8%) and vacancy rates (11.2%) of this workforce (NCI, 2020). Using a national sample of the direct support workforce, we examined racial differences in wages, annual household income, and extra hours worked during the pandemic. Significant differences were found for all outcomes. These issues are important as they affect staff well-being and retention which are important regarding services and supports provided to individuals with intellectual disabilities receive. Policy recommendations to address these disparities are provided.