The latest data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a sobering yet slightly hopeful look at the state of the U.S. nursing workforce. Released as part of the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, this report—the most extensive of its kind—surveyed over 800,000 nurses to assess changes since the height of the COVID-19 crisis in 2022. While signs of recovery are emerging, deeper structural issues persist.
Workforce Recovery: Progress With Caution
The NCSBN study found that employment levels for nurses have slightly rebounded, with 87.7% of registered nurses (RNs) and 70.6% of licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) now actively employed in the field. Median pre-tax earnings have risen by 10–16%, likely driven by inflation and the increased demand for healthcare services.
There’s also a marked increase in educational attainment and diversity:
73% of RNs now hold a baccalaureate degree or higher—the highest level ever recorded by NCSBN.
The percentage of Latino/Hispanic RNs has doubled since 2015, from 3.6% to 7.2%.
However, despite these gains, the road ahead remains rocky.
Burnout Still Driving Nurses Away
The report underscores a concerning trend: more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022, and an alarming 40% of RNs and LPN/VNs plan to leave or retire by 2029. Of those planning to exit:
41.5% cite stress and burnout as the leading reason.
Other top reasons include heavy workloads, chronic understaffing, and inadequate compensation.
“Staffing challenges, stress and burnout, and workforce safety are issues that have permeated the nursing industry before, during and after the pandemic and are still challenges,” said Phil Dickison, NCSBN CEO. “We can no longer use COVID-19 as an excuse.”
A Demographic Shift and Uncertain Future
Experienced nurses are re-entering the workforce, helping to stabilize the median age back to 50, but this may be short-lived. With the last of the baby boomers expected to retire by 2027, another wave of departures could further disrupt the workforce.
While reported workloads have decreased by 20–25% since 2022, high intent-to-leave rates and lingering burnout threaten the long-term stability of the profession.
Looking Ahead
The study highlights the urgent need to:
Retain experienced nurses
Address systemic causes of burnout
Strengthen workforce planning strategies
“It is necessary to continue efforts to retain more experienced nurses and address longstanding factors associated with nurses’ premature intent to leave,” added Dickison.
For nursing leaders, educators, and policymakers, these findings offer a critical call to action. Investing in meaningful change—beyond short-term fixes—will be essential to rebuilding a strong, sustainable nursing workforce.
Source: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study. For inquiries or access to the full research supplement, contact [email protected] or [email protected].