As Florida’s inhabitants continues to develop and demand for well being care providers rises, hospitals throughout the state are reporting important developments in strengthening the Sunshine State’s well being care workforce.
The newly launched 2025 Annual Workforce Report from the Florida Hospital Affiliation (FHA) reveals hospitals have added almost 65,000 jobs since 2020, whereas sharply lowering emptiness and turnover charges for nurses and allied well being care professionals.
Registered nurse emptiness charges have dropped 52%, and turnover charges are down 47% since 2022. Throughout the identical timeframe, allied well being skilled emptiness charges have fallen to 21%, and turnover charges have been minimize almost in half, although shortages stay in particular high-demand roles.
The report follows Governor Ron DeSantis’ announcement this week that Florida has invested $485 million in nursing education schemes. The announcement, in response to the FHA, demonstrates the state’s dedication to constructing a powerful well being care workforce.
“Florida’s hospitals have made outstanding progress in strengthening our workforce, however extra work lies forward because the demand for well being care grows and evolves,” mentioned Mary C. Mayhew, FHA president and CEO. “Sustaining this momentum by means of increasing coaching pathways, enhancing hiring efforts, and retaining the present workforce is essential to caring for Florida’s quickly rising inhabitants.”
Hospitals anticipate the state’s rising and getting old inhabitants to drive demand for care. In response to the report, Florida is house to greater than 4.5 million residents aged 65 and older—a demographic anticipated to achieve 6.7 million by 2036, or 26% of the state’s complete inhabitants. With many well being care staff nearing retirement, guaranteeing a powerful pipeline of well being care staff is a excessive precedence.
FHA’s 2021 Florida Nurse Workforce Projections research estimated that with out intervention, the state might face a scarcity of 59,100 nurses by 2035. Since 2022, the Florida Legislature has invested greater than $500 million by means of the Linking Business to Nursing Schooling (LINE) and Prepping Establishments, Packages, Employers and Learners by means of Incentives for Nursing Schooling (PIPELINE) applications. In response to the FHA, 157 hospitals have participated and offered matching funds to assist nursing training.
“The positive aspects we see in Florida’s well being care workforce exhibit what might be achieved by means of management, innovation, and robust partnerships between our state’s hospitals, leaders, and academic establishments,” Mayhew mentioned.
Hospitals are partnering with excessive faculties to assist well being care certificates applications, collaborating with faculties on Earn Whereas You Be taught initiatives, and enhancing mentorship and coaching applications to construct a sturdy well being care workforce.
Hospitals are additionally among the many largest employers throughout many Florida communities, supporting their native economies and sustaining further jobs. The report notes that whereas different sectors have lowered staffing, hospitals have added affected person care roles.
FHA’s evaluation attracts on a full yr of workforce information from 132 hospitals, representing almost half of the state’s hospital beds. Whereas gaps stay in numerous roles, the findings present Florida is constructing a extra sustainable well being care workforce.
