Third Quarter 2018 Data Now Available!
RNs under age 35 now exceed 1 million and outnumber RNs aged 50 and over for the first time since 1999
Full-time equivalent RN employment grew to 3.2 million in the third quarter of 2018, suggesting continued strong workforce growth rather than a possible flattening since around 2016. The RN workforce has now added a net 700,000 FTE RNs and is now 30% larger than it was in the beginning of 2010.
Source: Authors’ analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey
FTE RN employment grew in all sectors. In particular, the second quarter apparent downturn in non-hospital employment may have been due to data noise.
Source: Authors’ analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey
The strong 3rdquarter employment growth was driven entirely by RNs in the younger age groups, whereas the number of FTE RNs aged 50 and over did not grow and is roughly the same (1 million FTE) as it was in 2012. The number of FTE RNs under age 35, on the other hand, has grown by more than 33% since 2012 and has now surpassed this older group in size and exceeds 1 million FTE for the first time since 1999.
Source: Authors’ analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey
Average hourly earnings for RNs remained just under $29/hr.
Source: Authors’ analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey
Finally, the number of male FTE RNs in the workforce continued its sharp growth to nearly 450,000 FTE, which represents roughly a doubling since the first quarter of 2010 and a new high of 13.7% of the RN workforce.
Authors: Auerbach, David, Buerhaus, Peter, and Staiger, Doug.
Date Posted: November 14, 2018