Australia’s aged care sector may potentially face shortages of at least 110,000 direct workers within the next decade if appropriate action is not taken to recruit more workers, a study has found. Research by the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) revealed that if this challenge is not addressed, the shortage could swell to 400,000 by 2050. “We will need at least 17,000 more direct aged care workers each year in the next decade just to meet basic standards of care,” CEDA chief economist Jarrod Ball said, adding that it was a conservative assumption. Direct aged care workers include personal-care assistants, nurses, and allied health staff. It is forecasted that by 2031, nearly 20 percent of Australia’s population will be over 65, up from the current 16 percent. Therefore, the demand for workers in aged care will only continue to grow. “This requires a massive commitment from the Federal Government, …