The 2026 State Hospital Workforce reports identifies major workforce shortages in state hospitals with details about the intensity of shortages and the types of state hospital workforce experiencing these shortages. The report finds that shortages for most state hospital positions are getting worse compared with a 2023 report on workforce shortages. The report also provides information about Entry and Top salaries for major workforce categories at state hospitals and how salaries have changed from 2023 to 2026. Finally, the report discusses the use of temporary (Locum Tenons) at state hospitals, as well as state initiatives to grow, recruit, and retain behavioral health workers.
The infographic shows how State Hospital Workforce Shortages Worsen Despite Salary Gains and New Recruitment Efforts