Southern California is one of the most populous places in the United States. It’s also a great place to be a nurse. Take a closer look at some of these key facts and stats about the Southern California nursing market to make the most of your nursing career.
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Nursing Numbers Nationwide
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the RN workforce in America right now is just north of 3 million, and projected to raise to 3.4 million nurses by 2028. Nationwide, there is a nursing shortage — good news for prospective nurses entering the job market.
Supply and Demand for Nurses in California
A shortage occurs when the demand for something outweighs the supply. The nationwide nursing shortage applies to California as well, but to a lesser extent.
A study conducted by University of California San Francisco estimates that in 2017, there were 276,161 FTE (full-time employed) RNs available to work and 281,232 FTE RN positions to be filled.
Zooming In on Southern California: Supply and Demand for Nurses in the Region
A region-specific study for 2018, conducted by Joanne Spetz of the Healthforce Center at UCSF, shows slightly more nuanced supply and demand numbers for nurses in Southern California.
- The Los Angeles region (Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties) had a shortage of more than 2,500 FTE RNs. Factoring in contract RNs and inter-region commuting suggests that the total 2018 shortage may have exceeded 10,000 FTE RNs (10.4% of the total demand).
- The Inland Empire region (San Bernardino and Riverside counties) had a shortage of more than 1,500 FTE RNs. Factoring in contract RNs and inter-region commuting suggests that the total 2018 shortage may have exceeded 8,000 FTE RNs (23.4% of the total demand).
- The Southern Border region (San Diego and Imperial counties) had a balanced RN supply and demand, with a shortage gap smaller than 500 FTE RNs (2% of the total demand). However, factoring in contract RNs and inter-region commuting suggests that the total 2018 shortage may have exceeded 2,500 FTE RNs (9.1% of the total demand) in 2018.
In-Demand Nursing Positions
According to research by Nurse Journal, the top nursing specialties nationwide include Nursing Anesthetist, Dialysis Nurse, Legal Nurse Consultant, Nurse Midwife, and Nurse Case Manager.
For new-grad nurses that don’t want to work in hospitals, other nursing jobs in high demand include Certified Legal Nurse Consultant and Nurse Case Manager positions.
For new-grad nurses that want to work in hospitals, becoming a Certified Nursing Anesthetist, a Certified Dialysis Nurse, or a Certified Nurse Midwife are great, high-demand bets for 2020 and beyond.
Sources
Job Outlook (Registered Nurses). The Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2019.
Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California. Joanne Spetz, PhD. Healthforce at UCSF.
Regional Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in California. Joanne Spetz, PhD. Healthforce at UCSF. 2018.
Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in the Los Angeles Region of California. Joanne Spetz, PhD. Healthforce at UCSF. 2018.
Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in the Inland Empire Region of California. Joanne Spetz, PhD. Healthforce at UCSF. 2018.
Forecasts of the Registered Nurse Workforce in the Southern Border Region of California. Joanne Spetz, PhD. Healthforce at UCSF. 2018.
5 Booming Nursing Specialties Where the Demand is High. Nurse Journal. 2019.
