Healthcare Skill Shortages Expected in Oklahoma

Like many states, Oklahoma foresees skill shortages in its fast growing healthcare services sector.

If current trends continue, by 2012 Oklahoma is expected to have a shortage of more than 3,000 nurses, 600 lab technicians, 400 physical therapists, 300 surgical technologists and nearly 200 occupational therapists, according to an industry report released today by the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development (GCWED). The Health Care Industry Study, the first of a series of selected industries, assesses supply and demand and provides a gap analysis of the current and future workforce needs of Oklahoma’s health care industry.