Are Nannies Harder to Find Due to Labor Shortage?
The pandemic has changed so much of our daily lives, and the challenge of finding a nanny is no exception. Many families are experiencing an added hardship in an already difficult process of finding the perfect nanny for their family’s needs due to what many are describing as a labor shortage in the United States. It’s also been termed “The Great Resignation” of 2021, that has now crept into 2022 and may still be ongoing. What are some of the reasons this is occurring and what can families do about it to overcome hurdles in finding the right nanny for their home?
Are nannies in shorter supply?
Families are surely feeling the squeeze of childcare options these days, but it’s difficult to say if nannies are in shorter supply or actually in higher demand following The Great Resignation of 2021. In fact, many American workers and particularly women who have traditionally felt more responsibility for childcare are demanding more flexibility from their workplace post-pandemic, or even considering outsourcing childcare for the first time. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of childcare workers will likely grow by 14% through the end of this year. If the demand for nannies is rising from families, then there can be a perceived shortage of nannies to choose from. However, there’s some good news related to these changes. It’s possible that people who are leaving or have left their jobs in 2021, and have passion for childcare, would prefer to work in childcare instead – leading to potential growth in the market pool for nannies. This might mean that the options for nannies will be flooded with newcomers and revisiting childcare workers, but only time will tell.
What should families do if they’re having trouble finding a nanny?
First consider that all the talk about the labor shortage might not paint an accurate picture of the quality of nannies that are truly available. There are plenty of other factors to consider in landing a perfect fit for your family’s needs. For instance, consider what your advertised compensation is for the position, and explore other options of how much a nanny costs based on where you live and what might be the expectation in your area. Would adjusting the rate for your nanny be a good option for you? It could certainly increase the chances of you landing the perfect nanny by opening up the talent pool.
Other factors can include taking notice of potential new entries to the childcare market. Being a nanny is an incredibly rewarding job for many people, and could help ease the sense of disconnectedness many people felt during the pandemic. The job you’re offering is still a very coveted one, and maybe even more so as people have reevaluated their personal goals, values and ambitions. Are there candidates for your position that have taken a break from nannying to pursue other interests, but are now revisiting offering childcare services? These individuals might be motivated by a passion for childcare over their previous positions pre-pandemic, and might make fantastic nannies. Keeping an open mind is also helpful in times where there’s a squeeze on finding a great fit for your household needs, but of course make sure you’re still comfortable with an individual’s level of experience before welcoming them to be such an integral dynamic to your family.
Also, staying open-minded to other non-traditional developments in the childcare market, such as nanny share, could be a great fit for your family’s needs as well. Keep in mind that childcare services is far from a one-size-fits-all industry, and that there are plenty of options for your childcare needs ranging from hiring a household manager to bringing in a postpartum doula. Make sure you’ve explored all your options in your search.
What do I do if my nanny quits?
Being left in a childcare lurch is never fun, and having a nanny quit can be a very frustrating experience. To add to that frustration, nannies can quickly become integral to a household’s routine and dynamic, so losing someone who was a great fit can disrupt your home life greatly. Even though this experience is stressful, try to remain positive and make sure you’re making use of all the resources available to you, such as our own website and offerings. There are plenty of people here to help you make sure you find the perfect fit for your family. Who knows, your new nanny could be right around the corner and could be even more compatible with your needs. Get started with A Perfect Fit Nanny Agency today to help make finding a nanny an easy and enjoyable experience.
