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Like the rest of the nation, Michigan is experiencing severe workforce shortages, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. One 2023 survey showed that 86 percent of physician practices in the state reported declines in staff since the COVID-19 pandemic and another showed 27,000 hospital job openings in early 2023 – a 13 percent vacancy rate.

Nearly all health roles are expected to experience shortages within the next decade. However, certain occupations are experiencing shortages more severely; home health and personal care aides, registered nurses, and nursing assistants represent larger portions of the workforce and are projected to experience greater shortages, between 6,000 and 12,000 annual openings, through 2030. Additionally, there is geographic variation in healthcare shortages across Michigan. As of January 2024, 65 of Michigan’s 83 counties are considered primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas and of those, 52 are non-metro counties.

Factors contributing to healthcare workforce shortages include an aging population, an aging healthcare workforce, and burnout. Read on for CHRT’s evidence-based recommendations for recruiting and retaining healthcare workers.

For more information, contact Nancy Baum, director of health policy, at nmbaum@med.umich.edu.