The Center for the Business of Health (CBOH) continues to explore the healthcare workforce in 2025. Our exploration began with the 2024 UNC Business of Healthcare Conference, themed “Strategic Healthcare Workforce of the Future.” During this event, expert panels discussed key topics such as the maldistribution of the clinical workforce, preparing healthcare professionals for AI integration, the role of the non-clinical healthcare workforce, and the impact of consolidation on the healthcare labor market. Videos for each discussion can be viewed HERE.
In 2025, we will deepen our examination of the healthcare workforce, focusing on the investments various stakeholders are making to stabilize and expand their workforces in response to new demands in an ever-evolving healthcare environment.
CBOH will host its annual Research Symposium in May 2025, titled “Smart Workforce Investments: Where to Invest for Healthcare Workforce Success.” This invitation-only event follows the Chatham House Rule format and produces one of our annual reports on the year’s key topic. (You can view our previous research symposium reports on pharmaceutical innovation and pricing, and private equity in healthcare.)
As the demand for healthcare services rises, driven in part by an aging population and the increased prevalence of certain conditions, particularly behavioral health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, healthcare organizations must prioritize attracting and retaining skilled workers. Alongside this growing demand, the workforce faces rapid changes, including the integration of new technologies such as generative AI into workflows, organizational restructuring, and the ongoing effects of health system consolidations.
Labor costs remain the top expense for hospitals and health systems, making workforce management a critical focus. Optimizing operational efficiency, controlling costs, and driving revenue growth are central priorities for these organizations. However, the healthcare workforce continues to face significant challenges with burnout and administrative burdens that detract from direct patient care. While new technologies promise to alleviate some of these issues, questions remain about the effectiveness of these technological investments in improving performance, reducing worker burdens, and enhancing patient outcomes. Health service delivery organizations are also navigating rapidly changing policies and regulatory shifts under the new administration, alongside ongoing challenges related to costs and increasingly complex payer relationships. All of these challenges, and more, warrant a deeper exploration of their impacts on the healthcare workforce.
Join us as we explore these critical healthcare workforce issues over the next year through our commentaries, expert insights, and other programming!
Catch up on key healthcare workforce trends forecasted by the industry for 2025: