Transcript Public Policy Initiatives and the Health Care Workforce

Wisconsin’s Health Care
Workforce
Wisconsin Chapter-ACHE
October 2009
About Wisconsin
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The demographics
Losing newly graduated, young members
of workforce
Falling behind in baccalaureate degrees
Losing jobs in manufacturing
Wisconsin population is growing
faster than workforce
Wisconsin Population and Labor Force
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEA
7,000
POPULATION
6,000
CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE
( x 1000 )
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
1960
Source: OEA 2008
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
“The aging of the state’s population will have two
conflicting effects on the labor market. On one
hand, there will be an increased demand for health
care and social assistance services, which will
generate new employment opportunities for the
workers in the state. On the other hand, these
employment opportunities may go unfilled as
employers struggle to find qualified workers to fill
the jobs vacated by retiring baby boomers.” OEA,
2008. p3.
Factors Shaping Wisconsin's Future
Labor Force and Income
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Wisconsin currently ranks 36th in the percent of its
population aged 25+ with baccalaureate degrees;
Wisconsin faces a net out-migration of college-educated
young adults owing to a lack of high-paying jobs compared
to urban centers like the Twin Cities and Chicago that offer
higher salaries and proportionately more jobs in highpaying occupations;
Wisconsin has the worst fourth- and eighth-grade reading
and math performance in the nation for black youths, and
the largest black-white score gap;
Wisconsin’s high school population is forecasted to shrink
while groups with traditionally lower college attendance and
graduation rates comprise a larger share of traditional
college-age youth;
Health Care
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The health care industry in Wisconsin included
297,460 jobs in 2008. This includes positions in
ambulatory care facilities, hospitals, nursing
homes and residential care facilities.
The Story in Wisconsin
The current recession has lasted 20 months so far,
December 2007 through June 2009. This is the
longest recession since WWII. The average
recession length since 1945 is 10 months. The
previous recession lasted 8 months, from March
2001 to November 2001. The 1990-91 recession
also lasted 8 months. The lengthiest to date were the
recessions of November 1973 to March 1975, and
July 1981 to November 1982, both were 16 months
in duration.
The Story in Wisconsin
We
are still in for higher unemployment rates
and more job losses in the coming months.
Remember that employment gains always lag
economic gains.
In recessions since WWII, the jobs lag has
been anywhere from 9 to 19 months.
Wisconsin lost 137,000 jobs during this
downturn, about 5 percent of its job base since
the recession began in December 2007, on a
seasonally adjusted basis. All sectors suffered
job losses with the exception of health care.
 It was 20 months after the last recession
ended in November of 2001 that Wisconsin
jobs hit bottom, in July 2003. Following the
2001 recession, it took 50 months (over 4
years) for Wisconsin job levels to reach the
previous peak, SA.
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Job Openings-SE Wisconsin
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The health industry is the dominant force in the
current job market. One out of every four full-time
job openings is in a health-related field and one our
of every three part-time positions is in a healthrelated field.
Nearly 90% of these jobs, however, require training
or experience beyond high school and almost none
are available to workers who have not completed
high school or who lack job-related experience.
Source: Job Openings Survey for Southeastern Wisconsin May 2009. Regional Workforce Alliance.
Workforce Impact
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Workforce reductions
Hour reductions
Fewer opportunities for new graduates
Not as much mobility for incumbent
workers
Workforce Impact
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Employees who want to work too
many hours-Fatigue
Non-retirement-Older workers-staying
for the benefits and/or $$
Generational conflict
Regulatory Environment
Legislative Environment-State
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Ban on Mandatory Overtime
Volunteers
School Conference Leave
Licensing
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Surg Techs
Rad Techs
Impaired Professionals
Task Force created by Secretary of
Regulation and Licensing
Last scheduled meeting of that group tomorrow
Will make recommendations to Secretary
Issues:
Location, rules of the program, cost,
reporting of relapse, etc.
Beyond Wisconsin
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How to Staff a Hospital
Low/No lift
Public Reporting
Employee Free Choice Act
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California-5 supervised shifts legislation
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Employee Free Choice Act
and other Federal Initiatives
Some positives:
ARRA funding for re-training to health care
occupations
Primary Care-“Preserving Patient Access to
Primary Care Act of 2009“
Federal scholarship money
Funding for workforce planning-Health Workforce
Investment Act of 2009
The Challenges
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Not enough workers
The very old and the very young
Under skilled workers
Technology everywhere
Increased demand
Less money for everything
Thank you
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Judy Warmuth
[email protected]
608-274-1820