New Jersey’s nursing homes face a looming crisis beyond budgets or buildings—it’s about people. Specifically, it’s about a growing gap where more and more seniors need care, and fewer caregivers are available to support them. This growing imbalance is known as the “workforce cliff.”
It’s a Math Problem
The number of New Jersey residents aged 65 and over increased by 31% between 2010 and 2023, and the US Census Bureau estimates that nearly a quarter of New Jersey’s population will be 60 and older by 2030, a 30% increase from 2012.
At the same time, the number of working-age adults—those most likely to serve as caregivers—is flat.
Even today, nursing homes struggle to fill critical roles for direct care positions such as aides and nurses, and demographic trends ahead will only make things worse.