Texas governor proposes task force to address healthcare workforce shortage
TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to create a task force that would address the staff shortage crippling the state’s healthcare system.
Expanding healthcare education programs
In a letter to THECB Commissioner Harrison Keller, Abbott stated the task force should “provide opportunities and remove barriers that exist to expand healthcare programs at institutions and provide students with the tools necessary to succeed in this field in Texas.”
Abbott added that while the state has invested in job training programs in the medical field, an initiative to do more is needed, given the scarce talent pool.
The task force is expected to issue a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations by October 1, 2024.
Meeting the needs of an aging population
This initiative comes at a time when the healthcare industry nationwide experienced its fastest growth rate in over three decades, adding more than 650,000 jobs in 2023 alone.
According to the Census Bureau’s 2020 population estimates, there are 55 million Americans aged 65 and older. One-fourth of these older Americans live in one of three states: California, Florida, and Texas.
The estimates reveal that California has 5.9 million people aged 65 and up, Florida with 4.6 million, and Texas with 3.8 million.
An older population demands a bigger healthcare workforce. People 65 years of age and older are the most susceptible to chronic heart diseases and demand closer care.
“Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation, and it is vital that we continue to expand our healthcare workforce to meet the needs of our citizens as we build a bigger, better Texas,” Abbott wrote.
