Health Workforce

The health and public health workforce represents the backbone of every community’s capacity to deliver high-quality care and preventive services. This workforce encompasses clinicians, nurses, community health workers, mental health professionals, public health practitioners, and support staff who work collaboratively to promote physical, mental, and social well-being.

Nationally, workforce distribution and retention remain critical challenges. Geographic and socioeconomic factors often lead to shortages in primary care, behavioral health, and public health positions, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Workforce diversity also plays a crucial role, as a representative workforce improves cultural competence, patient trust, and health outcomes.

This site, scheduled for public release in Spring 2026. Health Workforce layer of the Whole Health Dashboard provides insight into the composition, distribution, and accessibility of the health workforce across regions. By integrating workforce metrics with community and population health indicators, this layer supports evidence-based planning, policy development, and academic initiatives designed to strengthen the pipeline of future health professionals, ultimately ensuring that every person has access to the care and support they need to live a whole, healthy life.