Maine’s Health Sector and Workforce Statistics-Trends-Projections October 18, 2011 Paul Leparulo, CFA Principal Economic Research Analyst

Review the key workforce and economic statistics for Maine’s health sector. Outline the factors impacting workforce demand and supply.

Healthcare & Social Assistance is Maine’s largest economic sector, in terms of number of jobs and wages paid (Maine employment mix by sector, 2010) Other* = management of companies, real estate and rental and leasing, agriculture, utilities, mining, and other services.

Healthcare Workforce Statistics Healthcare & Social Assistance Sector: 104,000 employees ▫Hospitals—31% of employment ▫Ambulatory healthcare—26% ▫Nursing and residential care facilities, social assistance—23% and 19% of employment, respectively. Healthcare occupations: 62,000 employees ▫$25 mean hourly wage ▫85% employed in health sector

Maine’s health sector employment growth has been remarkably consistent (Healthcare & Social Assistance Employment, )

In the 1990s healthcare generated nearly one out of every three new jobs in Maine. Since 2000, healthcare employment growth has partially offset declines in other sectors (Number of wage and salary jobs, )

Healthcare has been a significant driver of employment growth in Maine (Change in employment by sector, )

Strong employment growth has helped sustain Maine’s relatively high numbers of healthcare workers per population compared to the nation (Healthcare workers per 1,000 population)

Going forward, healthcare is expected to remain as a key driver of statewide employment growth (Employment projections, ) ▫Health sector employment growth ~10% (est.)  Growth rate and number of new jobs projected to be among the highest of all sectors.  Hospital and ambulatory health services employment expected to grow 14% and 12%, respectively. ▫Health occupational employment growth ~12% (est.)  ~7,500 new jobs  Nearly half of the 40 occupations with the fastest projected rate of job growth in Maine are health occupations.

However, industry and occupational growth rates are slowing compared to prior years ,000 New Jobs 25% Increase est. +7,490 New Jobs 12% Increase

Maine’s aging population: expected mix shifts in population segments over the next two decades will lead to increased demand for health services, all else constant (Maine Age Group Projections, )

The percent of the population above 65 years is expected to grow more rapidly in Maine than the nation. (Percent of Population Above 65 Years, Maine & USA)

Population growth—another fundamental driver of demand for health services—is projected to be much slower in Maine than for the nation ( Population growth projections, Maine & USA)

In addition to population demographics, a range of other factors will contribute to new job opportunities for health workers New Job Opportunities Changes in technology, insurance, etc. Health of population Economic growth

New Growth +7,490 Replacement needs Total Job Openings Job openings are a function of new growth and replacement demand Population demographics Economic & Income Growth Changes in technology Health of population Workforce demographics Worker preferences Changes in insurance coverage

New Growth: +7,490 Replacement Needs: +10,130 Total Projected Job Openings 17,620 The majority of job openings in health occupations over the next decade will result from the need to replace workers that are retiring or permanently leaving the occupation ( Projected Healthcare Job Openings, )

Compared to the nation, Maine’s rural areas (blue shaded area) have*: ~70% fewer dentists per capita ~75% fewer physicians and surgeons, all other per capita ~60% fewer surgical technologists ~40% fewer dental hygienists ~30% fewer speech –language pathologists ~ 25% fewer pediatricians. Caveat: Access to health services may vary substantially within the rural counties. *Workforce Analysis of Maine’s Health Services Sector Health workforce distribution