Shortage of Nurses and nursing providers have increased as more of the population retires. Millennials, who fall between the birth years of 1982 to 2000 are the top age group that is becoming the largest group in the in-home care workforce. According to a new study published in the October edition of Health Affairs an average millennial is now 186% more likely to become a registered nurse (RN) compared to baby boomers who’s generation are the ones most typically in the highest leadership positions in nursing. In recent new reports millennials are said to play a big role in solving the ongoing caregiver shortage which has become a significant threat to the healthcare industry. In previous years, baby boomers and Generation X population dominated the field and as they reach retirement age economic factors pushed them to retire later. Today, a shortage of skilled nursing providers have have forced the industry to create resources to address the issue.
According to The DSHS Center for Health Statistics, in response to mounting concern about Texas’ nurse shortage, the Texas Legislature created The Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies (TCNWS) under the governance of the Statewide Health Coordinating Council (SHCC). The TCNWS serves as a resource for data and research on the nursing workforce in Texas. This includes collecting and analyzing data on nurses in Texas in regard to:
- Educational and employment trends
- Supply and demand trends
- Nursing workforce demographics
- Migration of nurses
A report by Bernard Hodes white paper determined that it is in the best interest of nursing to have the other three generational cohorts (Veterans Baby Boomers, Gen X) in the workplace join forces to welcome the Millennial generation into professional nursing and to provide the structure and feedback they need to make a successful transition into the profession.
While baby boomer nurses are declining in the industry, there is currently a major shift in millennials entering the nursing workforce. 630,000 new jobs by 2027, according to the New York City-based nonprofit Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI) and millennials are the dominant group going after those opportunities.
By 2030, it is reported by industry insiders that the workforce is expected to grow another 36%, or 1.3% annually, to just more than four million registered nurses (RNs), despite more older nurses retiring over that time period at a rate of 60,000 boomers per year since 2012. See Texas Nursing Demand and Supply Report for more details.
Note: These reports are the results of research and analyses conducted by the Center for Health Statistics on health professions data. The results do not necessarily reflect the policy or views of the Department of State Health Services.