New Jerseys Health Care Cluster Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D. Assistant
Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce
Development Ashley Conway, Senior Policy Analyst, State Employment
and Training Commission Sandy Lopacki, Coordinator, New Jersey
Healthcare Talent Network at Rutgers University New Jersey
Partnership to Build a Strong Health Care Workforce
Slide 2
2 Key Principles for Talent Development Grounded in an
understanding of the workforce needs of industries Connected to
other workforce and education intermediaries Connected to economic
development efforts, when appropriate Focused on using data to
inform program and policy decisions
Labor Market Information as a Tool to Inform Talent Development
Strategies Talent Development Strategy Transaction Indicators
Employer Feedback Industry / Occupation Data Education / Training
Data
Slide 6
New Jersey Health Care Highlights There are roughly 21,300
establishments employing about 421,000 people of all ages, genders,
races, and educational backgrounds in New Jersey in 2010 From 1990
through 2010, the health care sector has added 164,700 new jobs,
while all other private sector employment has had a net decline of
11,100 jobs Health care is the only industry that has added jobs in
the state every year from 1990 through 2010 while increasing its
share of jobholding from 7.5 percent in 1990 to 11.3 percent in
2010
Slide 7
The health care industry has been the driving force of
employment in New Jersey over the last two decades From 1990
through 2010, the health care sector has added 164,700 new jobs,
while all other industries combined have had a net gain of only
54,700 Employment in Ambulatory Health Care Services and Nursing
and Residential Care Facilities has nearly doubled over the last 20
years Slow, and recently stagnant, growth in Hospital employment
has led to it being the laggard among Health Cares three major
components (1990=100) Source: Current Employment Statistics
Slide 8
With employment surpassing 420,000, the health care sector
accounts for over 11% of all employment in the state in 2010, up
from 7.5% in 1990 Ambulatory Health Care Services surpassed
Hospitals as the top employer in the Health Care sector in 2003,
and has widened the gap every subsequent year Nursing and
Residential Care Facilities, the smallest component, has grown more
than three times the rate (3.1%) of Hospitals (1.0%) since 1990
Together, the three Health Care components have grown by 2.4%
annually since 1990, compared to only 0.3% for total nonfarm
employment and a job decline for all private sector excluding
health care Source: Current Employment Statistics
Slide 9
60,925 Health Care Employment in Bergen County
Slide 10
Slide 11
The health care sector offers opportunities for employment for
all levels of education and experience Source: Occupational
Employment Statistics Survey
Slide 12
Employment status and personal earnings of individuals in the
health care industry Source: American Community Survey
Slide 13
Gender, racial, and ethnic profile of New Jerseys health care
work force Source: American Community Survey Females outnumber
males by a 3 to 1 margin in the health care workforce The workforce
is far more diverse than average, particularly among the black and
Asian population The workforce has just slightly fewer Hispanics
than average
Slide 14
From 2003 to 2009, the total number of degrees and certificates
awarded has increased by 82% Source: Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
Slide 15
The health care industry has steadily gained employment over
the last 20 years and will continue that trend through 2018 Source:
Current Employment Statistics New Jersey Industry and Occupational
Projections Employment is still growing, but getting slower Grew by
3% per year during 1990s Grew by 2% per year during 2000s Projected
to grow by 1.3% from 2008- 2018 There will still be many
opportunities for employment as the industry struggles to increase
workforce for growing demand while also replacing workers who will
retire The health care cluster is projected to add over 56,000
jobs, and account for more than 45% of net job growth from 2008-
2018
Slide 16
Understand Talent Needs Develop Strategy Implement Programs
Health Care Workforce Council Industry Focused Labor Market
Intelligence
Slide 17
The outlook for health care employment is bright. From 2008
through 2018, it is projected that more than 56,000 jobs will be
added, an annual increase of 1.3 percent - NJ Dept. of Labor and
Workforce Development Projected significant growth and critical
shortages Fewer jobs available and unemployment in some health care
occupations The outlook is bright, but Expanding ambulatory and
home care Constricting acute care provided in institutions
Slide 18
What health care jobs will be in demand? Trends Employer
needs
Slide 19
National Health Care Reform and fundamental changes in how
health care is delivered New health care technologies and knowledge
Aging population with greater health care needs Current health Care
workforce at or nearing retirement Rising costs and high
utilization Severe economic downturn Moving from hospital-based
care to community-based care Changes in reimbursement (who, what
and where) and financial incentives Unemployment of licensed
professionals and predicted critical shortages Trends that impact
the health care workforce: ModelsPipelines Economics Potential
health care coverage of 450,000 more NJ residents in 2014
Slide 20
Slide 21
Slide 22
Workforce Employers Education New Jersey Health Care Workforce
Council The Health Care Workforce Council mission is to strengthen
New Jerseys health care workforce to support a sustainable, quality
health care system for the good of the State and all of its
residents. The Council makes recommendations to the State
Employment and Training Commission to ensure quality workforce
investments to meet the needs of health care employers for a
highly-trained and diverse workforce, which will benefit
individuals who are starting or advancing in health care
careers.
Slide 23
Greater alignment of training and education with current and
future workplace needs. Health care workforce issues being
addressed by the Council: Need for greater collaborative learning
linking fields/disciplines and transcending the isolation of silos.
The need for shared, coordinated state health care workforce data
that is meaningful and accessible. How will changes in health care
delivery change the health care workforce? Clarify health care
career pathways and improve career entry and up skilling. What is
the current health care occupation demand and supply? What will be
needed in the future? Pipelines Pathways Data Models
Slide 24
Coordinate Sector Resource Innovate Conduct outreach Cultivate
relationships Link likely partners Facilitate communication between
stakeholders Provide sector intelligence Qualitative data
collection (employer needs) Identify and help mitigate barriers to
workforce development Support partners initiatives Collect and seed
best practices Initiate short term fix solutions and improvements
to the health care workforce system New Jersey Health Care Talent
Network To leverage workforce development resources to their
fullest through coordinated communication, greater sector
understanding, and the encouragement of innovation.
Slide 25
Speak with employers Systematically, regularly, often In forums
where HR executives already go NJHA, Primary care association, Home
care, ambulatory groups
Slide 26
Health Care Talent Network New, work in progress Collaborative
Data-driven Innovative Pilot and share best practices
Slide 27
First steps Exploring ways to train coders for high demand IP
positions Developing models for veterans to transfer training to
credit in health care ed programs Planning summits with employers
and university Careers Offices Testing concept of virtual job
fairs
