Greensburg YMCA plans job expo to remedy staffing shortage, curtailed programs

Jan. 30—The Greensburg YMCA is planning a Job Expo on Wednesday to help fill available openings ranging from child care teachers to lifeguards and custodians.

CEO Suzanne Printz said the nonprofit organization is looking to hire about 50 people as it copes with staff shortages that have been a problem since the arrival of the pandemic nearly three years ago.

The job event will have an open house format from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Y, 101 S. Maple Ave.

"We have the same staffing shortages as many companies and organizations that have impacted some of our programming," Printz said. "We had 135 employees pre-covid and we're at about half of that now. That translates into a lot of (curtailed) hours."

Some of those shortages, in the ranks of teachers and aides, forced the Y to temporarily close its Early Childhood Learning Center. Ideally, Printz said, that center could serve as many as 160 children from six weeks old through age 5.

She said the trouble is increased competition for a labor pool that was diminished by a "great

retirement" trend coinciding with the pandemic. Some early learning staff have left the Y to fill openings at local school districts.

While a problem for the Y and parents who depend on its child care, that shift was good for the schools. "We don't begrudge them," Printz said.

"Child care is really going through a crisis," she said. "Several other centers have had to close."

Dusty Harris, child care director at the Y, noted she has had trouble finding care for the granddaughter she's raising.

Before- and after-school programs for school-age children that the Y offers in the Greensburg Salem, Hempfield Area and Yough districts have been scaled back because of insufficient staff.

The same goes for swim hours available to Y members, cut from about 71 hours per week to 34 hours, because of a lifeguard shortage.

"About five more lifeguards would be great," Printz said of the pool staff.

One of the Y's aquatics classes is Happy Hinges, meant to alleviate arthritis symptoms and improve joint motion.

"We want to offer that three days a week, but now it's only two days a week." Printz said.

Caught between limited funds from state reimbursements and the need to keep fees within the budgets of those it serves, the Y is challenged to keep pace with increasing wages offered by other employers.

That's why it's also looking to hire a part-time development director, whose job would include seeking new sources of revenue.

A variety of part-time jobs are available, as well as full-time positions that offer medical benefits.

Those attending the job expo are encouraged to bring their resumes. Y staff will be on hand to conduct job interviews and offer tours of the facility.

For more information, visit greensburgymca.org or call 724-834-0150, ext. 161.

Jeff Himler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jeff by email at jhimler@triblive.com or via Twitter .