Expanding and Empowering the U.S. Health Care Workforce

This thought leadership paper outlines the challenges facing the U.S. health care workforce, including staffing shortages, rising patient demand, and an aging workforce. It highlights the severe shortages in various sectors such as primary care and maternal health, predicting significant deficits in health care roles by 2025 and beyond. The document details the impact of these shortages on health care professionals, including burnout and diminished quality of patient care. It discusses the need for coordinated solutions from both public and private sectors to expand the workforce, improve retention, and enhance career pathways. The paper emphasizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration and community-based approaches to strengthen the health care system. Additionally, it presents UnitedHealth Group's commitment to investing in future health care professionals and developing career pathways, which includes funding scholarships and creating direct care positions. The paper concludes by addressing financial barriers to entering health care professions and the need for organizations to support individuals in overcoming these challenges.