Staff recruitment challenges and interventions in agencies supporting people with developmental disabilities

Recruitment challenges and costs were identified by administrators from 129 randomly selected agencies that provide residential, vocational, and other services to persons with developmental disabilities in Minnesota. Finding qualified applicants was the most: difficult staffing problem reported. Com mon recruitment incentives included providing competitive benefits, allowin g rime off without pay, and offering paid leave time. Relatively few agenci es used innovative strategies (e.g., bonuses for employees who recruit new workers). The average agency had vacancy rates of 6% in direct-support posi tions and 4% in first-line supervisor positions. On the basis of these find ings, one could determine that the cost of advertising and overtime for vac ant positions in Minnesota could approach $6.7 million per year.