Studying Minnesota’s Licensed Health Care Workforce
“What would you ask Minnesota’s health care providers about who they are, what drives them,, and what frustrates or motivates them in their work?” For more than 25 years, the State of Minnesota has been asking exactly that.
Minnesota's state legislature mandated that MDH survey licensed health care providers to monitor workforce trends and inform policy more than 25 years ago. The Health Care Workforce Survey began in 1993 and included just a few provider types. Today, MDH surveys nearly 300,000 providers from 28 professions—primary care, nursing, mental health, oral health, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and several allied health fields. Because providers respond during license renewal, participation approaches 100%.
This effort has given Minnesota both a big-picture view of its licensed health care workforce and a nuanced understanding of what motivates the decisions of this vital group of workers. Below is a small sample of findings that provide a brief overview of the sort of information we gather. Below is a small sample of findings that provide a brief overview of the sort of information we gather.
Who is Minnesota's Health care workforce?
Active Licensees as of January 2026
 Growth trends, 2010–2024
All but two professions have grown since 2010, including through the COVID years. Licensed practical nursing—a key role in long-term care—has been losing workers, largely because of relatively low wages and an accessible path to higher-paying RN positions. Advanced practice providers (PAs and APRNs), by contrast, have grown quickly, expanding primary care options across the state.
Growth rate of Minnesota’s Health Care Professions, 2010-2024
Every year, the survey includes specialty questions for a deeper look at specific policy issues. Watch this space to learn more about why providers take on supervisory roles, how artificial intelligence is entering clinical practice, and how workplace violence affects provider satisfaction.
For more in-depth data from the Health Care Workforce Survey, visit our data dashboard at Minnesota’s Licensed Health Care Workforce Data.
Workforce as Strategy: A Practical Guide to Attract and Retain Key Personnel Webinar
This webinar, hosted by the National Organization for State Offices of Rural Health, explores practical financial strategies designed specifically for rural providers, including deferred compensation, self-funded health plans, and housing finance models. Attendees will learn how to strengthen recruitment and retention, structure long-term incentive packages, and align workforce initiatives with sustainable staffing and long-term financial stability.
Date: Apr. 13
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Registration Link: Webinar Registration: Workforce as Strategy - Zoom
Addiction Medicine Bootcamp
CentraCare is hosting an Addiction Medicine Bootcamp – MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder). This live training offers 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for physicians and meets 5.5 Minnesota Board of Nursing continuing education hours.
Date: Apr. 30
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: CentraCare Plaza
The bootcamp will focus on practical, clinical management of opioid use disorder across care settings, including:
- Taking a substance use–specific history and identifying OUD (opioid use disorder) indicators
- Agonist therapy options for inpatient and outpatient settings
- Urine toxicology interpretation
- MOUD induction processes and complications
- Overdose prevention counseling
- Clinical models of care in inpatient, primary care, ED, and specialty settings
This training may be particularly relevant for emergency departments, primary care providers, hospitalists, and other clinicians engaged or looking to be engaged in OUD care or MOUD expansion efforts.
Interested participants can RSVP directly to Brittney Gobel at brittney.gobel@centracare.com.
VA Benefits Explained for Health Care Partners
The Minnesota Department of Veterans affairs invites participation in a webinar focused on benefits for veterans. The session will provide an overview of how VA benefits work and how health care partners can better support Veterans in accessing the services they have earned. It’s designed to help care teams better understand available resources and how to guide Veterans through the benefits process.
Date: May 11
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m
Registration Link: VA Benefits Explained for Health Care Partners (Teams)
This training may be especially helpful for:
- Leadership teams
- Social workers
- Care coordinators
- Case managers
- Nurses and nurse managers
- Behavioral health staff
- Patient navigators
- Discharge planners
- Community health workers
- Veteran program coordinators
- Anyone working directly with Veterans or supporting Veteran care
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