Gaps in Public Health Workforce Development Plans

by Jon Scaccia September 27, 2023

In a world where public health challenges keep evolving, the importance of having a robust and competent public health workforce cannot be overemphasized. Ensuring that these employees are recruited, retained, and provided with the essential skills to respond to these challenges is critical. But are our health departments (HDs) up to the task? A recent study provides some insights.

Study Overview:

This research is the first of its kind, examining workforce development plans (WDPs) of 201 accredited HDs. The period of the study ranged from March 2016 to November 2021. Through an in-depth content analysis of these WDPs, eight primary workforce themes were looked into, each with its related subthemes. These themes ranged from planning and coordination, leadership, and organizational culture to the more direct areas like recruitment, training, and partnerships.

Key Findings:

Health departments (HDs) identified significant gaps in preparing their workforce for community engagement (34.3%) and in resources for training (24.9%). Although 84.1% had strategies to assess training needs and 63.2% to improve training quality, there were discrepancies, as some areas with strategies weren’t recognized as gaps. Additionally, there was minimal focus on diversity in recruitment, with only a small percentage seeing it as a gap or having related strategies.

Workforce Implications and Takeaways:

• Understanding the Real Needs: The discrepancies between identified gaps and strategies indicate potential misalignment. HDs might need further guidance and support in truly understanding and addressing their workforce needs.
• Diversity Matters: In a world growing in diversity, public health departments must prioritize and strategize around recruiting a diverse workforce. A diverse workforce can better understand and address the unique needs of different community groups, leading to more effective public health interventions.
• Investment in Training: Given the prominence of training-related gaps and strategies, it’s evident that there’s a pressing need to invest in continuous training and development for the public health workforce.
• Strengthening Partnerships: With community engagement being the most recognized gap, HDs should focus on fostering collaborations and partnerships with local communities, organizations, and other stakeholders.

As we aim for a more proactive and responsive public health system, understanding and addressing workforce development needs is paramount. This study serves as an eye-opener, pointing towards areas of improvement and focus for health departments across the board.

Read the Research

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