A new study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that the U.S. will face a shortfall of 5.3 million college-educated workers by 2032, with the nursing, teaching, and medical professions expected to experience the largest gaps.
The nursing pipeline, in particular, has suffered from high turnover rates due to burnout, and there’s also a faculty shortage in nursing programs. Without significant investment in postsecondary education and training, the U.S. will face a shortage of 362,000 nurse practitioners and registered nurses, and 42,000 licensed practical nurses by 2032, according to the study.
Workforce shortages – especially in education and healthcare – must be urgently addressed. To address the skills gap, the authors recommend colleges:
- Focus on specific sectors that face the most pressing shortages – nursing and teaching – to alleviate implications for the US education and healthcare systems.
- Address the faculty shortage for nursing preparation programs.
- Implement teaching and counseling strategies to adapt to the evolving socioeconomic and racial demographics of the student population.
The authors call for “massive and immediate increases in educational attainment” to be a priority. Moreover, they suggest expanding visa programs, prioritizing immigrants with in-demand skills, investing in reskilling U.S. workers, and improving the effectiveness of skills-based hiring.
To read the full report, CLICK HERE.