The Hawaii Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

State Health Workforce Profiles Highlights Hawaii

Printer-friendly Hawaii Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

• There were more than 42,000 workers employed in the health sector in Hawaii in 2000, 7.7% of Hawaii’s total workforce, lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Hawaii ranked 41st among states in per capita health services employment.
• Health services employment in Hawaii grew 40% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 12% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 24% in health services sector employment, slightly higher than the national rate of growth.
• The total population of Hawaii is projected to grow 38% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 54% between 2000 and 2020.
• In 1999, Hawaii had low rates of deaths due to cancer and heart disease and firearms. In 2000, Hawaii had one of the highest rates of TB cases in the country with a rate that was nearly twice the national rate.
• In 2000, Hawaii ranked 35th among states in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

• There were more than 2,600 active patient care physicians in Hawaii in 2000. With 217 physicians per 100,000 population, Hawaii was higher than the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Hawaii ranked 10th among states in physicians per capita.
• Hawaii had 79 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 Hawaii graduated 53 new physicians in 2000. Hawaii graduated fewer new physicians per 100,000 population (4.4) than did the entire United States (6.4) and ranked 36th among the 46 states with medical schools in medical school graduates per capita.
• There were 56 physician assistants practicing in Hawaii in 2000. This was equal to 4.6 physician assistants per 100,000 population, significantly less than the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

• There were over 10,200 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Hawaii in 2000; more than 8,500 were employed in nursing. This was equal to 702.4 RNs per 100,000 population in Hawaii in 2000, less than the national rate of 780.2.
• In 2000, Hawaii ranked 42nd among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) in 2000, with 159.2 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Hawaii ranked 45th among the states in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 1,930 workers.
• Hawaii had more than 180 nurse practitioners in 2000, equal to 15 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, substantially lower than the national rate of 33.7. Hawaii had one of the lowest ratios of nurse practitioners per capita in the nation.
• With 25 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Hawaii had 2 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 2.9. Hawaii ranked 29th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
• With 86 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Hawaii had 7.1 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

• There were 977 dentists, 840 dental hygienists, and 970 dental assistants practicing in Hawaii in 2000. Hawaii ranked 6th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was also higher than the national rate, while the ratio of dental assistants was below the national rate.
• The number of dentists in Hawaii grew 16% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 7%. The result was a 9% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
• There were 1,120 pharmacists and 1,420 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Hawaii in 2000. Hawaii had 92.4 pharmacists and 117.1 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 4th and 2nd, respectively, among the 50 states.
• There were 178 psychiatrists, 300 psychologists and 2,280 social workers in Hawaii in 2000. This was equal to 15.0 psychiatrists, 24.7 psychologists, and 188.0 social workers per 100,000 population. Hawaii ranked 9th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 38th in psychologists per capita, and 17th in social workers per capita.

Aides

• There were 2,050 home health aides and 2,980 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Hawaii in 2000. Hawaii had 169 home health aides and 245.7 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 23rd and 48th, respectively, among the 50 states.