2022 Workforce Report


WHA’s 2022 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report shows that an aging workforce combined with a spike in worker departures associated with nationwide employment disruption dubbed the “Great Resignation” created unprecedented levels of vacancy rates in health care professions in 2021.
 
Burnout among health care workers resulting from successive surges of COVID-19 cases over the past two years and escalating demand for delayed health care services has intensified a growing health care workforce shortage in the state. The combination of the Silver Tsunami, the Great Resignation and a persistent pandemic that pushed hospital occupancy to its limit resulted in an increase in vacancies in 13 of 17 professions tracked in WHA’s Health Care Workforce Report, with seven positions registering double-digit vacancy rates. Registered nurse vacancy rates were the highest they’ve been since 2005, leading WHA to note, “The nursing shortage has arrived.”
 
Workforce Report

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Download Full Report Message from Chair Recommended Strategies

Strategies to Support Wisconsin’s Health Care Workforce

#1 Build public-private partnerships to “Grow Our Own” health care workforce

Leveraging the strong relationship between where you work and where you live is critical to building a community’s talent pool.
 

#2 Promote rapid innovations to retain and recruit health care workers

As the health care industry seeks to attract new workers and build new capacity from within, it must also adapt to the expectations of a new, younger workforce.
 

# 3 Break down barriers to top-of-skill practice

Responding to the demands of COVID-19 demonstrated how versatile health care workers can be when allowed to put their skills to full use.
 

#4 Bolster acceptance and efficient utilization of integrated health care technology

Technology can increase access to health care services while at the same time increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of services throughout the continuum of care.
 

#5 Reduce regulatory burden and increase regulatory flexibility

Burdensome regulatory compliance that offers no care or safety benefit means less time spent with patients.
 

#6 Support care in the best setting—inpatient, outpatient or post-acute.

Lack of access to post-acute care resulted in more than 600 patients needlessly occupying hospital beds at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.