Workers who assist Georgians with disabilities are starting to see a long-awaited pay-bump, giving providers hope that they can finally compete again with the fast-food and retail jobs that have been eroding their workforce and hamstringing their capacity to function.
The pay increase is the result of a wage study two years ago that led to a recommended $6-per-hour increase for workers called direct support professionals. Previously, they were on average making $10.63 an hour at a time when fast-food chains and big box retailers were offering higher pay.
That lagging wage has contributed to a workforce crisis that providers say intensified after the pandemic, causing providers to close facilities and scale back services. That workforce shortage continues today, often leaving people with disabilities and their loved ones scrambling to find caregivers…