At the 2025 Senior Living Executive Conference, workforce development wasn’t just a topic—it was a rallying cry. Industry leaders, workforce innovators, and senior living providers came together for a high-impact session, “Building the Future Together: Collaborative Workforce Development Strategies for Senior Living.” Their message was clear: the workforce infrastructure to support senior living already exists. The opportunity now lies in activating it—strategically, collectively, and with urgency.
This moment is about more than filling jobs. It’s about building sustainable career pathways, unlocking partnerships across education and government, and designing a long-term strategy to support the people at the heart of care.
The Workforce Development Framework
To address the ongoing staffing crisis with a proactive solution, Argentum launched its Workforce Development Framework, a cornerstone of the association’s Develop Our People strategic pillar. This initiative empowers providers to move beyond short-term fixes and engage with the broader workforce ecosystem to build a reliable talent pipeline.
Ashante Abubakar, Vice President of Workforce Development at Argentum and moderator of the session, emphasized the importance of bridging existing gaps.
“There’s an entire workforce ecosystem built—Job Corps, American Job Centers, community colleges, apprenticeship programs—and yet many senior living employers haven’t fully engaged with them. We’re here to change that,” commented Abubakar.
The framework is designed to help providers tap into these public and private training systems, align with educational institutions, and access funding opportunities to support workforce growth.
Job Corps: A Powerful Talent Pipeline
Job Corps: A Powerful Talent PipelineOne of the most promising tools in this workforce strategy is Job Corps, a U.S. Department of Labor program that trains nearly 60,000 young adults each year. With industry-recognized credentials in healthcare—including CNA, LPN, and medical assistant certifications—Job Corps graduates are work-ready and mission-driven.
Helyse Markham, APR, of Management and Training Corporation (MTC), highlighted the program’s unique value: “Our students aren’t just earning certificates—they’re gaining real exposure to workplace expectations. Many of them become confident, mission-driven employees, and in many cases, employers’ insurance or wage costs are offset through Job Corps funding.”
Despite its proven track record, the program faces uncertainty. A recent pause on contractor-operated Job Corps centers raised concerns about its future. While a temporary restraining order has halted the decision, the situation highlights the need for continued industry advocacy to ensure Job Corps remains a vital partner in senior living workforce development.
Community Colleges: An Untapped Goldmine for Senior Living Workforce Talent
Complementing Job Corps are the thousands of community colleges that prepare millions of students each year for careers through short-term credentials and applied learning. Jerome Countee, a longtime leader in higher education and panelist, emphasized that many colleges are already offering med tech, nursing assistant, dietary, and management programs aligned with senior living needs.
“About half the students who walk into a community college aren’t pursuing degrees,” Countee noted. “They’re looking for job-ready credentials. The people you need are already there—you just have to know who to talk to.”
He urged providers to connect directly with workforce and economic development offices rather than academic departments. These teams are already building employer partnerships, managing apprenticeships, and facilitating placement pipelines.
This is especially important in states with heavy provider concentration. The 2025 Largest Providers Report highlights significant presence in states like Texas, Florida, California, and North Carolina—locations where strong partnerships with community colleges can yield immediate impact.
Direct Workforce Services: Streamlining Public Workforce Access for Senior Living Providers
Recognizing that most operators are stretched thin, Argentum created Direct Workforce Services (DWS) in 2024—a hands-on support program that navigates public workforce systems on behalf of providers. DWS manages job postings, assists with training applications, facilitates introductions to workforce boards, and helps secure wage reimbursement or tax credits.
Led by Ashante Abubakar and Dan Passarella, DWS has already made measurable progress:
- Over 400 candidate referrals facilitated
- New employer partnerships launched in six states
- Assistance with complex paperwork for federal incentives
“Most providers don’t have time to figure out how federal programs work,” Passarella explained. “Our job is to bridge that gap and help them activate systems that are already serving millions of job seekers in other industries.”
For large providers managing operations in dozens of states—and even for smaller regional players—DWS offers a pathway to scale without the administrative burden.
Collaboration in Action: SHAPE and The Workforce Symposium
To elevate awareness and foster connection, Argentum is hosting two signature workforce events this summer:
- SHAPE (Senior Housing Advancement and Pathways Event) – July 17, 2025 | Richmond, VA
Co-hosted with the Virginia Assisted Living Association, SHAPE is designed for job seekers, students, and providers. It spotlights training programs, career ladders, and local hiring needs—all while celebrating the vital role of senior living careers in the broader healthcare ecosystem. - Senior Living Workforce Symposium – August 18, 2025 | Greensboro, NC
This national event brings together workforce boards, Job Corps leadership, community colleges, and provider HR teams to share best practices and build scalable talent solutions.
