The latest Missouri Hospital Association workforce report shows labor turnover rates fell last year, but they are still higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic. The report includes data from 128 hospitals, and it found slightly negative trends among 32 hospital-based positions despite turnover and vacancy beginning to slow.
Jill Williams, Vice President of Workforce Development, told Missourinet that it’s good news, but challenges remain.
“Missouri hospitals have seen a reduction in those record high vacancy and turnover rates that spiked during the pandemic,” she said. “But what we are seeing is that although, you know, the current levels are still trending slightly down, they still remain above those historic norms.”
Hospital leaders cite workforce stability as a growing concern. Williams expects increases in demand for care in the future due to an aging population and “comparatively poor health” in Missouri.
“Some of those things include, you know, workforce stability, aging skill workers, and just a dynamic work environment working in healthcare, and really finding that employees, especially our younger workers, are looking for kind of new shifts and how and when they work,” said Williams. “So, being more flexible around work models and care delivery.”
She said that the pandemic had a ‘multifaceted’ impact on Missouri’s workforce numbers.
“A lot of that (is) stemming from the increased workload and stress,” Williams said. “Our healthcare workers were experiencing working extended shifts (and) high stress environments. This really created burnout and exhaustion. We also had accelerated retirements during that time. So, a lot of healthcare workers that maybe weren’t going to retire for another 4-5 years, went ahead and retired.”
She said that continued investments are necessary to make sure hospitals have the workforce needed in the future. Williams also said that new and existing programs are the key to creating opportunities to help grow the workforce. And she called on continued investment from policymakers and stakeholders to make that possible.
© 2024, Missourinet.