Consistent and reliable data collection plays is necessary for effective health workforce planning. In the past decade, more states and organizations have prioritized collecting health workforce data. The Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center (HWTAC) tracks states data collection efforts for supply, demand, and education pipeline data through an ongoing survey. This brief presents current health…
As the largest occupational group in the United States, alongside home health aides, personal care aides (PCAs) play a critical role in supporting millions of Americans. However, despite their significant presence in the workforce, PCAs continue to face persistent job quality challenges, with inadequate training being a key concern. Unlike other direct care workers, PCAs…
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized as essential healthcare providers in the United States. Valued for their deep understanding of the communities they serve, CHWs play a crucial role in building high-impact partnerships with low-income, underserved, and racial and ethnic minority populations. Despite the recognized value of CHWs in improving health outcomes, the integration…
The United States is grappling with a behavioral health crisis worsened by workforce shortages, which restrict access to treatment. States are responding by creating new roles and expanding existing ones within the behavioral health workforce. However, misalignment in training, regulation, and payment policies undermines the effective deployment of these roles to address needs. This article…
The growing number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders presents significant challenges for health systems and policies. Primary care clinicians provide ongoing medical care for 80% of affected individuals, yet they face persistent barriers to providing high-quality dementia care. This article explores responses from interviews conducted with family physicians on what core…
The dental workforce in the US is facing a significant reduction in the number of dental hygienists and dental assistants. This decline, marked by a 10% decrease in practice capacity in 2022, is impacting the efficiency and quality of dental care services while presenting serious challenges to job satisfaction and the overall well-being of the…
The health workforce is a vital part of our health care delivery system. To meet the health care needs of the population, it is essential to have a workforce that is well-trained, adequately staffed, and diverse. However, even in this post-pandemic era, significant challenges remain. This introduction to a special collection of papers in Health…
Health centers—often referred to as federally qualified health centers or FQHCs—play a vital role in addressing perinatal inequities. However, there is limited data on how various staffing models, including the presence of certified nurse midwives (CNMs), influence perinatal outcomes. This article identifies how different health center perinatal staffing configurations—including the availability and use of CNMs—relate…
Career ladders offer a structured pathway for employees to advance in their careers by meeting specific education, certification, and performance requirements. These programs help entry-level workers gain the skills needed to progress into intermediary and leadership roles within their organizations. By providing a clear progression path, career ladders enhance staff recruitment, development, and retention while…
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers with less formal education, such as nursing assistants and home care aides, were more likely to experience economic insecurity—including real or perceived financial instability—compared to their more highly educated counterparts, such as physicians and nurses. To understand how the pandemic affected these workers, researchers analyzed economic insecurity during…
