HRSA - U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Service Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Home
Questions
Order Publications
 
Grants Find Help Service Delivery Data Health Care Concerns About HRSA
National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The Connecticut Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

Health Resources and Services Administration Logo
State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Connecticut

Printer-friendly Connecticut Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were more than 160,000 people employed in the health sector in Connecticut in 2000, 9.6% of Connecticut’s total workforce, higher than the national rate of 8.8%. Connecticut ranked 11th among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Connecticut grew 22% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 4% that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 17% in health services sector employment, lower than the national rate of growth (21%).
  • The total population of Connecticut is projected to grow 6% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 25% during the same period.
  • In 1999, the rates of deaths due to heart disease, firearms and cancer in Connecticut were lower than national rates. Connecticut was high in the nation in the number of reported AIDS cases in 2000.
  • In 2000, Connecticut was below the national rate in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

Highlights of the findings about the health workforce in Connecticut are presented below.

Medicine

  • There were over 8,700 active patient care physicians in Connecticut in 2000. With 257 physicians per 100,000 population, Connecticut was well above the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Connecticut ranked 4th among states in physicians per capita.
  • Connecticut had 77 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, higher than the rate of 69 per 100,000 for the entire country.
  • Medical schools in Connecticut graduated 195 new physicians in 2000. Connecticut ranked 28th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. On a per capita basis, Connecticut graduated fewer new physicians per 100,000 population (5.8) than did the entire United States (6.4) and ranked 23rd among the 46 states with medical schools in medical school graduates per capita.
  • There were 840 physician assistants practicing in Connecticut in 2000. This is equal to 24.6 physician assistants per 100,000 population, well above the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were over 41,700 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Connecticut in 2000; more than 32,000 of these RNs were employed in nursing. This was equal to 940 RNs per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 780.2.
  • In 2000, Connecticut ranked 31st in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 213.4 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Connecticut ranked 29th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 7,280 workers.
  • There were over 2,100 nurse practitioners in Connecticut in 2000. This was equal to 64.1 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, well above the national rate of 33.7. With 150 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Connecticuthad 4.4 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 2.9. Connecticut ranked 13th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 326 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Connecticut had 9.6 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, comparable to the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 2,262 dentists, 3,260 dental hygienists, and 3,100 dental assistants practicing in Connecticut in 2000. This was equal to 66.3 dentists per 100,000, just above the national rate of 63.6. Connecticut ranked 17th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratios of dental hygienists and dental assistants were both higher than their respective national rates.
  • The number of dentists in Connecticut declined 7% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 4%. The result was a 10% decline in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 2,500 pharmacists and 2,990 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Connecticut in 2000. Connecticut had 73.3 pharmacists and 87.6 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 28th and 23rd, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 767 psychiatrists, 2,010 psychologists and 7,190 social workers in Connecticut in 2000. This was equal to 23.4 psychiatrists, 58.9 psychologists, and 210.7 social workers per 100,000 population in 2000. Connecticut ranked 4th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 6th among states in psychologists per capita and 11th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 11,340 home health aides and 23,190 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Connecticut in 2000. Connecticut had 332.4 home health aides and 679.7 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 3rd and 6th, respectively, among the 50 states.