Current workforce data from Jobs EQ shows significant shortages in some counties — not just doctors, dentists and mental health professionals, but nurses, pharmacists and more. The table below shows workers per 10,000 population for 20 health care occupations.
Counties with the most population density (Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte counties) meet or exceed the national average for most occupation categories, while in the most rural counties the numbers are much smaller.
Health Care Professionals per 10,000 Population, 2017
SOC | Title | CA | CL | JA | LA | PL | RA | AL | JO | LV | MI | WY | US |
29-1011 | Chiropractors | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
29-1021 | Dentists, General | 2.8 | 4.7 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 4.1 |
29-1031 | Dietitians & Nutritionists | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 2.1 |
29-1041 | Optometrists | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 |
29-1051 | Pharmacists | 6.5 | 10.4 | 12.4 | 6.4 | 9.6 | 7.5 | 10.2 | 9.9 | 6.9 | 5.5 | 16.6 | 9.7 |
29-1062 | Family & General Practitioners | 1.6 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 5.1 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 5.2 | 4.2 |
29-1064 | Obstetricians & Gynecologists | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.4 | - | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
29-1065 | Pediatricians, General | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
29-1066 | Psychiatrists | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | - | 0.7 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
29-1067 | Surgeons | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
29-1069 | Physicians and Surgeons, All Other | 4.3 | 15.4 | 20.3 | 3.1 | 8.4 | 6.2 | 3.1 | 15.0 | 11.5 | 4.2 | 21.1 | 11.6 |
29-1071 | Physician Assistants | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 3.8 | 3.4 |
29-1081 | Podiatrists | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.4 | - | 0.5 | - | - | 0.4 | 0.2 | - | 0.2 | 0.4 |
29-1122 | Occupational Therapists | 2.7 | 4.2 | 5.7 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.9 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 6.7 | 4.0 |
29-1123 | Physical Therapists | 3.7 | 7.0 | 9.1 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 7.9 | 4.1 | 2.1 | 10.2 | 7.5 |
29-1141 | Registered Nurses | 41.5 | 90.0 | 146.0 | 43.5 | 44.9 | 54.5 | 62.9 | 85.2 | 83.3 | 51.0 | 269.4 | 91.5 |
29-2041 | EMTs and Paramedics | 3.8 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 14.5 | 7.1 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 10.6 | 7.6 |
29-2052 | Pharmacy Technicians | 10.1 | 15.0 | 16.4 | 9.8 | 14.6 | 11.4 | 15.7 | 13.9 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 18.6 | 12.3 |
29-2061 | LPNs & LVNs | 16.6 | 20.4 | 27.6 | 19.9 | 13.7 | 13.2 | 11.8 | 23.9 | 14.0 | 19.7 | 24.5 | 21.7 |
CA=Cass, CL=Clay, JA=Jackson, LA=Lafayette, PL=Platte, RA=Ray, AL=Allen, JO=Johnson, LV=Leavenworth, MI=Miami, and WY=Wyandotte
Source: JobsEQ 2017 Q3, U.S. Census Bureau 2016 Estimates
Help-wanted ads fluctuate widely from month to month, but the overall trend in health care job postings indicates a rising demand.
The table below shows the top 25 health-related job occupations, ranked by current job totals, along with the projected change over the next five years, annual openings (which includes turnover) and median hourly earnings. (Source: JobsEQ)
Occupation Title | 2017 jobs | Projected 2026 jobs | Change | Percent Change | Annual Openings | Median Hourly Earnings |
Registered Nurses | 23,266 | 24,690 | 1,424 | 6% | 1,510 | $30.73 |
Nursing Assistants | 11,248 | 11,807 | 559 | 5% | 1,414 | $12.85 |
Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses | 4,700 | 4,918 | 218 | 5% | 386 | $20.85 |
Medical Assistants | 3,812 | 4,297 | 485 | 13% | 542 | $15.49 |
Home Health Aides | 3,587 | 4,315 | 728 | 20% | 616 | $11.64 |
Physicians and Surgeons | 3,194 | 3,391 | 197 | 6% | 127 | $97.97 |
Pharmacy Technicians | 2,968 | 3,091 | 123 | 4% | 261 | $14.72 |
Pharmacists | 2,203 | 2,251 | 48 | 2% | 104 | $58.02 |
Dental Assistants | 2,103 | 2,294 | 191 | 9% | 284 | $17.37 |
Medical Records/ Health Info Technicians | 1,765 | 1,873 | 108 | 6% | 131 | $18.37 |
Radiologic Technologists | 1,678 | 1,770 | 92 | 5% | 108 | $27.02 |
Medical and Clinical Lab Technologists | 1,596 | 1,697 | 101 | 6% | 123 | $28.86 |
Physical Therapists | 1,542 | 1,705 | 163 | 11% | 100 | $36.57 |
Medical and Clinical Lab Technicians | 1,516 | 1,628 | 112 | 7% | 121 | $16.90 |
Dental Hygienists | 1,465 | 1,600 | 135 | 9% | 120 | $34.41 |
EMTs and Paramedics | 1,303 | 1,364 | 61 | 5% | 92 | $17.73 |
Nurse Practitioners | 1,197 | 1,387 | 190 | 16% | 104 | $46.84 |
Healthcare Social Workers | 1,140 | 1,159 | 19 | 2% | 28 | $26.59 |
Family and General Practitioners | 1,015 | 1,091 | 76 | 7% | 43 | $74.61 |
Speech-Language Pathologists | 1,000 | 1,074 | 74 | 7% | 67 | $35.53 |
Occupational Therapists | 980 | 1,068 | 88 | 9% | 68 | $36.65 |
Massage Therapists | 858 | 991 | 133 | 16% | 125 | $14.73 |
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 802 | 816 | 14 | 2% | 20 | $18.42 |
Medical Transcriptionists | 448 | 450 | 2 | 0% | 53 | $15.99 |
Nurse Anesthetists | 376 | 402 | 26 | 7% | 24 | $69.87 |
Source: JobsEQ 2017 Q3, U.S. Census Bureau 2016 Estimates
Data is the most current available as of September 2017.
Produced by the Mid-America Regional Council for the REACH Healthcare Foundation | www.marc2.org/healthdata ©