Health Care Sector Strategic Report

In 2000 and 2001, the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) facilitated a series of meetings and discussions with health care employers about the mismatch between the health care industry’s employment needs and the supply of workers in the Boston region. In the fall of 2001, with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, the Boston PIC invited more than 50 stakeholders to form Boston’s Health Care Consortium. The goal of the Consortium is to identify strategies that address persistent labor shortages within Boston’s health care industry and improve the ability of Boston’s workers to become employed in health industry jobs that will support them and their families.

The Private Industry Council contracted with the Center for Labor Market Studies (CLMS) at Northeastern University to conduct an analysis of the workforce supply and employment demand in Boston’s health care industry. In addition, Boston PIC staff conducted a series of interviews, focus groups and questionnaires with health care employers, members of industry associations, incumbent workers, Boston Public School students, adult participants in health care training programs, and training providers. The purpose of these activities was to identify issues that affect workers’ interest in, commitment to and ability to succeed in health services careers. This paper summarizes research findings and presents options for initiatives and activities to be undertaken by the Consortium.