At the 2025 Senior Living Executive Conference, the conversation around workforce development took center stage—not simply as a challenge to overcome, but as a collective opportunity to shape the future of care. In a pivotal session titled “Building the Future Together: Collaborative Workforce Development Strategies for Senior Living,” thought leaders, providers, and workforce experts came together with a bold message: the workforce infrastructure we need already exists. Now is the time to mobilize it.
The Workforce Development Framework: From Scarcity to Strategy
To help senior living providers meet workforce demands, Argentum launched its Workforce Development Framework, part of the association’s Develop Our People strategic pillar. This framework guides providers in leveraging education and training resources across the public and private sectors, helping them build sustainable talent pipelines.
Ashante Abubakar, Vice President of Workforce Development at Argentum, who moderated the session, emphasized the importance of tapping into systems that are already in place. “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.”
Unlocking the Power of Job Corps
Among the most impactful, yet underutilized, workforce assets is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps program. Serving nearly 60,000 young adults annually, Job Corps offers technical skills training and real-world experience in healthcare and other high-demand industries. Participants leave the program with industry-recognized credentials, including CNA, LPN, and medical assistant certifications, and gain valuable experience through structured work-based learning programs.
Helyse Markham, APR, of Management & Training Corporation (MTC), highlighted the strength of the model: “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.”
While Job Corps currently supports a smaller talent pool than other systems, it provides a critical entry point for younger workers who may not otherwise access careers in senior living. It also introduces diverse candidates who bring cultural competence and lived experience—traits increasingly valued in resident-centered care.
However, uncertainty around the program’s future emerged this summer when the Department of Labor announced a phased pause of contractor-operated centers. A temporary restraining order has halted that decision, but the situation underscores the need for industry advocacy and long-term integration of Job Corps as a vital workforce partner.
Community Colleges: A Sleeping Giant of Senior Living 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: Doing the Heavy Lifting for 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.