Let's talk about Labor Market + Healthcare

Read 'Navigating the Healthcare Workforce Crisis' Ebook

Hospitals and health systems are struggling to recruit and retain staff. Fewer and fewer students are seeking degrees and certifications in the Life Sciences field. Couple this with an aging population, and you have a perfect storm. Lightcast can help.

Lightcast x Healthcare

An Organization’s Survival Guide

<h1 class="mt-4 text-3xl lg:text-5.5xl title tracking-tight">Navigating the Healthcare Workforce Crisis</h1>

Developing the Skills for Future Growth

Life Sciences Reports: UK and Europe

Human Resources

Nursing will always be a cornerstone of healthcare, but the more imminent threat to healthcare’s success lies in the rapidly disappearing workforce of allied health professionals. The question isn’t how we attract more nurses—it's about retaining the ones we have. 

Healthcare Workforce: Beyond the Registered Nurse Shortage

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Occupation
</td>
<td>
Category
</td>
<td>
Skill Similarity
</td>
<td>
Mean Salary Diff.
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Residential Advisors
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement
</td>
<td>
72%
</td>
<td>
+$7,817
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Nursing Assistants
</td>
<td>
Advancement
</td>
<td>
70%
</td>
<td>
+$7,887
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Childcare Workers
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement
</td>
<td>
63%
</td>
<td>
+$8,148
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Social and Human Service Assistants&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement&nbsp;
</td>
<td>
56%
</td>
<td>
+$12,013
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement
</td>
<td>
54%
</td>
<td>
+$11,696
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
</td>
<td>
Lateral Transition
</td>
<td>
53%
</td>
<td>
-$114
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Psychiatric Technicians
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement
</td>
<td>
47%
</td>
<td>
+$10,413
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Recreation Workers
</td>
<td>
Lateral Transition
</td>
<td>
47%
</td>
<td>
+$3,710
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Psychiatric Aides
</td>
<td>
Advancement
</td>
<td>
46%
</td>
<td>
+$20,996
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other
</td>
<td>
Lateral Advancement
</td>
<td>
42%
</td>
<td>
+$17,912
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

One job tells the whole story of America’s aging workforce, as home health aides are set to make the transition from helper to patient.
Demand for home health aides is set to grow more than for any other occuption—by over 700,000 over the next five years—because the US population is aging, and so are home health aides: 55% are over age 45.

The Worst Job in Healthcare

How Home Health Aides Expose America's Workforce Blind Spot

The Worst Job in Healthcare? 

Read our Latest Demographic Drought Research

There's a Storm Coming.

There are more US job postings for registered nurses than any other occupation—and demand is only increasing, going up 17% since 2021. But the share of college students choosing nursing majors has dropped 48% from the class of 2021 to the class of 2026.

Are We Running Out of Nurses? 

Market Trends

Workforce Development

Staffing

Over 10 years ago when I started in workforce development, I chose growing industries to expose high school students in hopes that they would select industries that had the highest growth potential. Fast-forward over a decade later, many of these industries round out the most demand jobs in America.

Top Jobs to Watch in 2025: Insights from Lightcast Data

Explore the occupations driving economic growth and the key skills you need to succeed

Skills

Hiring/Recruitment

Workforce Planning

Read our latest Demographic Drought research.

There's A Storm Coming.

Europe

An Aging Population and a Growing Need

As life expectancy climbs and the Baby Boomer generation crests into its golden years, the demand for elder care is reaching an unprecedented peak. 

The Economy of Care

The Economy of Care: An Aging Population and a Growing Need

Demographic Drought

Education

APAC

The life sciences sector is in constant evolution and at the leading edge in so many ways that it’s nothing new, and no surprise, that there’s a talent gap.  

Lightcast’s new report developed in partnership with Cogent Skills does something unique: it looks at life sciences in a more granular way than other reports.

Data to Inform your Life Sciences 2030 Skills Strategy

Real Life Data to Inform your Life Sciences 2030 Skills Strategy

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Green Jobs

The U.S. labor market is at a critical inflection point, facing converging trends that will shape the future of work. The question is no longer whether these changes will occur but whether we are prepared for them. Labor Shortage risks aren't a prediction, they are an inevitability.

Labor Shortage Risks Are an Inevitability

Labor Shortage Risks Aren't a Prediction, They Are an Inevitability

Staffing Insights

Remote Work

Learn more about our services and solutions

Need talent acquisition solutions?

Need help with your talent acquisition? Talk to a Lightcast expert.

To help your organization future-proof your workforce, learn more about what strategic talent acquisition is, why talent acquisition strategies are important, top trends challenges in talent acquisition, and how to develop and implement effective strategies. 

4 Talent Acquisition Strategies for a Future-Proof Workforce

Want to support your healthcare staffing strategy with real-time data? Connect with an expert:

After surging demand, the healthcare industry is trying to stabilize. Discover how to adapt to this shifting demand and build strategic staffing partnerships.

The State of Staffing: Healthcare Demand Adjusting

 Making Sense of Post-Pandemic Healthcare Staffing

<h1 class="font-sans font-semibold text-3xl lg:text-5xl leading-[48px] tracking-[-1.44px] 
							 lg:max-w-[525px] 
							 ">The Intensifying Healthcare Labor Shortage</h1>

Gary Russo Talks About How Providence Uses Lightcast Skills To Build Its Healthcare Workforce

Ready to talk about Healthcare and Life Sciences?

The healthcare labor crisis is at a tipping point. Hospitals and health systems are struggling to recruit and retain staff. Plus, fewer and fewer students are seeking degrees and certifications in this field. Couple this with an aging population, and you have a perfect storm.

Lightcast x Healthcare and Life Sciences

Lightcast is the world's leading authority on job skills, workforce talent, and labor market dynamics, providing expertise that empowers businesses, education providers, and governments to find the skills and talent they need and enables workers to unlock new career opportunities. 

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