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CWORPH members have been collaborating for more than 10 years to conduct research that advances the field of public health workforce. Explore all of the publications they have produced together.

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Enumeration 2024: What We Know and What We Wish We Knew About the Governmental Public Health Workforce in a COVID-19 Recovery Landscape

Workforce estimates show that while state and local public health staffing rebounded to around 239,000 employees in 2022, this growth hasn't kept pace with population increases, and many hires were temporary. Regional disparities, underrepresentation of public health nurses, and looming workforce departures highlight the urgent need for sustained investment, strategic planning, and stronger data collection across all levels of government, including Tribal and territorial agencies.

Enumerating the State and Local Public Health Workforce During the COVID-19 Response

A 2023–2024 enumeration found 239,000 staff employed in state and local health departments, revealing a 2% increase since 2012 but significant workforce losses in several states, especially in the Southeast. The findings highlight chronic underinvestment in public health and call for stronger, sustained federal funding and improved enumeration methods across all government levels.

Enumerating the US Governmental Public Health Workforce

Enumerating the US governmental public health workforce is crucial for strengthening infrastructure, guiding workforce planning, and addressing staffing needs at federal, state, and local levels. Enumeration 2024 builds on this effort by using a multi-pronged approach to assess the size, key occupations, and changes in the public health workforce since 2012.

Issue Brief: Public Health Occupations and the Standard Occupational Code System

The Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system is the federal standard for categorizing occupation data, used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to collect and analyze workforce information. However, the current SOC and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes lack the granularity needed to accurately enumerate the governmental public health workforce in state, local, Tribal, and territorial health departments.

The Demoraphics, Training, and Job Functions of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Nursing Workforce

This research examines the demographics, training, and job functions of nurse officers in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) to improve measurement of the public health nursing (PHN) workforce. The findings underscore the value of job function questions in workforce assessments and suggest USPHS nurses could provide insights for strengthening diversity in the nursing profession.

Distribution and Specialties of Broadly Versus Narrowly Defined Public Health Nurses Working in Government Settings in the United States, 2022

Using 2022 data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, researchers found that PHNs make up 3.7% of registered nurses (RNs) in government settings under a broad definition and 1.8% under a more restrictive definition. The study highlights that PHNs often identify as generalists and work in diverse settings like public health, school health, and correctional health.

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Join us in our mission to advance public health workforce research and make a lasting impact on the health of communities worldwide. By becoming a supporter of CWORPH, you contribute to vital research initiatives that drive evidence-based solutions and inform policies to address the challenges facing the public health workforce. Your support helps us build a strong and resilient workforce that can effectively respond to emerging health issues and improve population health outcomes. Together, we can shape the future of public health and create a healthier world for all.