Covista index sees US healthcare workforce shortage nearly doubling by 2040 without action
CVSA•Covista’s index projects the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage will nearly double by 2040 without intervention. It estimates combined workforce investment and care-delivery innovation could close 92% of the projected gap.
1. Projected workforce gap
Covista published a Healthcare Workforce Index projecting that the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage will nearly double by 2040 without intervention. The index estimates unfilled positions cost the average U.S. family $430 annually now, rising to $1,250 by 2040. It estimates AI could close up to 37% of the gap, while newly surfaced demand could offset 18%; therapeutics and care redesign could address 21% and 13%, respectively.
2. Potential health effects
The index estimates that solving the nursing shortage alone could save nearly 100,000 lives by 2040, while closing the physician gap could add more than six months to life expectancy. Combined workforce investment and care-delivery innovation could close 92% of the projected 2040 gap.
