Courtesy photo
Jennifer Hutchins, MANP executive director
April 18, 2022
Maine nonprofits hit hard by labor shortage, face staggering job vacancies
By Staff
Maine's workforce shortage has reached crisis proportions within nonprofit organizations, an advocacy group for them says.
“What we initially considered a challenge has now become a crisis,” said Jennifer Hutchins, executive director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits, in a news release. “The impact of these shortages can be seen in virtually every local community across the state as nonprofits are forced to restrict needed services, institute waiting lists, or close operations entirely.”
According to a survey of Maine nonprofits conducted last fall, 48% of respondents reported vacancies of between 10% and 19%. About a fifth of Maine nonprofits said they had job openings for 20% to 29% of their positions. Another 5% of the organizations reported vacancies greater than 30%.
Respondents identified a variety of factors that made it difficult to retain and attract employees.
- Eight out of 10 said salary competition prevented them from filling job openings.
- Over 16% said the inability to find child care affected recruitment and retention.
- About 1 in 4 respondents said they were affected by vaccination policies.
- About 1 in 4 reported not being sure what was affecting recruitment and retention.
“As demand for services increases, we have to step up efforts to ensure that nonprofits can offer competitive wages and benefits, access to child care and other employment supports,” said Hutchins.
The online survey was part of a national study posted by the networks of the National Council of Nonprofits to gauge the scope of the workforce shortage problems for charitable organizations and determine the impact on their abilities to advance their missions.
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Anonymous
April 18, 2022
It would seem if 80% is due to compensation competition then they need to pay higher wages and benefits, DUH?!
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