Assessing the workforce development needs of healthcare employers in Southeastern Wisconsin
April 2010

Despite the region's high unemployment rates, a recent survey of health care employers in Southeast Wisconsin indicates that a limited supply of qualified healthcare workers is harming efforts to fill current job openings. Respondents say applicant quality (60.7%) and retaining qualified workers (30.2%) are the biggest challenges they face in meeting their organizations' workforce needs. Gaps in applicants' basic skills, especially soft skills such as professionalism, team skills and verbal communication, also make it harder for healthcare employers to recruit and hire competent job candidates.

The recent survey of 28 healthcare facilities included the four largest hospital systems in southeast Wisconsin, as well as nursing and residential care facilities such as doctors' offices and diagnostics labs.