Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry still struggles with lingering effects, including staffing shortages, employee burnout, and rising medical costs. Across the nation, labor unions representing healthcare workers are pushing for change, and San Diego County is no exception.
Recently, Sharp HealthCare and Rady Children’s Hospital workers organized picket lines to voice their concerns. In a significant development, nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital, represented by UNOCH/Teamsters Local 1699, reached a new three-year contract agreement on Thursday, averting a second strike. This agreement came after the union rejected the hospital’s offers three times over the past two months, demanding higher wages and lower medical premiums.
A Health Resources and Services Administration’s Health Workforce report projects a nationwide nursing shortage until 2036. Specifically, the demand for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses is expected to exceed supply by 2026 and 2031, respectively, leading to a projected 10% shortage in these fields. California is one of the states facing the most severe shortages, with a projected 26% deficit of RNs, translating to a net deficit of over 106,000 nurses.
While the healthcare sector’s challenges may worsen before improving, there is a positive employment outlook for new graduates or those relocating to California. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California had the highest number of employed nurses in the country, with over 330,000 RNs employed as of May 2023.