NC health sector sees only 4% new jobs in recent hiring survey
A new report finds that North Carolina's medical workforce is shrinking relative to population growth, with severe shortages in emergency medical and mental health roles.
By Yasmin Kovalenko ·
North Carolina's medical staffing levels are falling behind the state's rising population, leaving patients with fewer available providers. A report released by the NC Center on the Workforce for Health indicates that the state must train more nurses, nursing assistants, and emergency medical technicians while also retaining current staff.
The center's Health Talent Alliance has tracked vacancies since 2024. This year's survey examined trends across more than 1,700 health facilities. Among the employers surveyed, only 4% of hiring involved newly created positions. Turnover rates remain particularly high in behavioral health and long-term care facilities.
Andy MacCracken, the center's director, stated that demand for services is rising faster than the incoming workforce can supply. He noted that recent changes to the federal Pell Grant program will assist in training more nurses and nursing assistants. MacCracken said that more than half of the state-approved programs under the Workforce Pell initiative are in healthcare.
According to data from the state nursing board cited in the report, North Carolina nursing programs produced approximately 4,670 newly licensed registered nurses in 2025. This figure represents a 3% increase from the previous year. MacCracken described this federal funding as a tool to unlock dollars for short-term workforce development programs.
The report identified EMTs, paramedics, and mental health counselors as the hardest positions to fill. Regional disparities in hiring and retention are evident, with higher vacancy rates in western North Carolina and other rural areas. Emily McCartha, an analyst, attributed some of the high metrics in the mountain region to Hurricane Helene and the subsequent movement of people.
The report recommends a targeted, regional approach to workforce development. Cited examples include a pre-nursing program for high school students in Lincoln County, a joint retention effort by health systems in North and South Carolina, and a workforce training program in the northeastern part of the state.
Source: WUNC
