FDNY EMS Staffing and Pay Crisis Deepens as Response Times Surge Nearly 2 Minutes

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 21, 2026

New York City's FDNY EMS is facing a severe staffing and retention crisis, with average response times to life-threatening emergencies rising from 11:21 to 13:09 between 2025 and 2026. Union leaders cite poverty-level starting wages of $18.94/hour — barely above NYC's minimum wage — as a primary driver of high turnover, with an estimated 37% of the roughly 4,000-member workforce potentially leaving within the next year if compensation doesn't improve. The situation illustrates the compounding effects of low public-sector wages on workforce stability, a dynamic relevant to staffing firms serving healthcare and emergency services clients. Eleven hospital-contracted ambulance units have also exited the 911 system, further straining available resources.