The Public Health Nutrition workforce and its future challenges: the US experience

Area of Science:

• Public Health Nutrition
• Workforce Development
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The public health nutrition workforce is crucial for population health.
• Understanding its composition and challenges is vital for effective service delivery.
• Previous surveys provide a historical context for workforce trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the current US public health nutrition workforce.
• To identify future social, biological, and fiscal challenges.
• To inform strategies for workforce development and sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of four workforce surveys conducted since 1985 by the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors.
• Analysis of data on nutrition personnel in governmental health agencies across the United States.
• Inclusion of full-time and part-time personnel, encompassing direct-care and population-based services.

Main Results:

• The workforce predominantly provides direct-care services to women, infants, and children.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funds 81.7% of positions.
• The workforce is becoming more racially/ethnically diverse, with 18.2% speaking Spanish as a second language.

Conclusions:

• Future workforce strategies must prioritize diversity, cultural competence, and succession planning for leadership roles.
• Gaps exist in understanding the workforce's capacity for elder care, emergency preparedness, and behavioral interventions.
• Addressing fiscal challenges requires demonstrating evidence-based practice, cost-effectiveness, and impact.