Current Report Articles
Health Care Vacancies and Turnover in Kansas

Workforce (June 9, 2023) – The Kansas Hospital Association has published its annual Kansas Health Care Workforce Report. The report utilizes data gathered from various sources to illustrate health care workforce challenges.

The 2023 KHA Workforce Survey is the primary source of data, providing vacancy and turnover rates for 28 hospital-based and four clinic-based positions, highlighting those most in demand statewide and regionally. With this information, hospital and health system leaders gain a better understanding of the current workforce environment, as well as what to expect in the future. The data is designed to inform strategies for recruitment and retention to ensure Kansas hospitals have the capacity to support the health of their local communities.

This year, 109 Kansas hospitals participated in the survey, the highest participation in the last ten years. Overall, vacancies and turnover remain high. Turnover for most positions surveyed has remained steady or increased from last year's numbers. Vacancy rates for all surveyed occupations in diagnostic imaging, laboratory and therapy have declined since last year, except for respiratory therapists.

The report displays vacancy and turnover rates in 2022 for licensed practical nurses. Staff nurses are at peak levels with 25 percent of hospital LPN jobs and 21 percent of staff registered nurse hospital jobs vacant, with 22 percent of LPNs and 18 percent of RNs turning over last year. In addition, the overall employee turnover rate for surveyed health care positions in Kansas averaged 19 percent, with the highest turnover rates for housekeepers (32 percent), certified nursing assistants (30 percent) and food service/dietary aide workers (27 percent).

--Jaron Caffrey