Report Identifies Need for Data Analysis Skills among Public Health Workforce
A report published on Jan. 29 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) describes gaps in the public health workforce in the United States that exist across multiple occupations, including nursing and epidemiology. According to GAO, the gaps vary by location, with more pronounced gaps in some regions, especially rural areas. GAO also found that gaps in the workforce “may be exacerbated during public health emergencies as needs increase, especially when accompanied by staff departures” like those that occurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic, in part due to increased workplace stress and public mistrust and criticism of public health workers.
The report concludes that gaps in the public health workforce “limit the ability of jurisdictions to conduct key public health functions, such as disease investigation and control, identification of hazards, and readiness to respond to emergencies.” Regarding hazard identification and control and emergency preparedness and response—both areas in which occupational and environmental health and safety professionals often work—GAO identified gaps in staff with skills in data analysis, a key competency for responding to public health emergencies.
Officials in five of 11 jurisdictions in which GAO conducted interviews indicated a need for staff with skills in informatics, which the Public Health Informatics Institute defines as “the science of how to use data, information and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of health care services.” The report further describes a need for public health training in informatics so that more people “can use available data to identify community hazards and available assets to address such hazards.” According to GAO, knowledge of informatics can help the public health workforce address public health needs and disparities and to improve disease surveillance.
The report stems from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which called on GAO to study existing gaps in the public health workforce, including positions that may involve preparing for and responding to public health emergencies; challenges related to hiring, recruiting, and retaining the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public health workforce; and what efforts have been made to address these challenges. GAO is an independent, non-partisan agency that works for Congress. The agency’s new report can be found on its website along with more information about GAO.
