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National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The Minnesota Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Minnesota

Printer-friendly Minnesota Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were more than 250,300 people employed in the health sector in Minnesota in 2000, 9.6% of Minnesota’s total workforce, above the national rate of 8.8%. Minnesota ranked 4th among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Minnesota grew 33% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 15% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 16% in health services sector employment, lower than the national growth rate of 21%.
  • The total population of Minnesota is projected to grow 10% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 58% between 2000 and 2020.
  • In 1999, the rate of deaths due to cancer, heart disease and firearms were well below their respective national rates. There were low numbers of incidences of TB and reported AIDS cases in 2001.
  • In 2000, Minnesota had more hospital beds per 100,000 population than the national rate.

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

  • There were more than 9,500 active patient care physicians in Minnesota in 2000. With 194 physicians per 100,000 population, Minnesota was slightly lower than the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Minnesota ranked 21st among states in physicians per capita.
  • Minnesota had 76 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 Minnesota graduated 275 new physicians in 1999-00. Minnesota ranked 20th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. On a per capita basis, Minnesota graduated fewer new physicians per 100,000 population (5.7) than did the entire United States (6.4) and ranked 25th among the 46 states with medical schools in medical school graduates per capita.
  • There were 711 physician assistants practicing in Minnesota in 2000. This was equal to 14.4 physician assistants per 100,000 population, equal to the national rate.

Nursing

  • There were more than 54,900 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Minnesota in 2000; over 47,100 were employed in nursing. There were 954.6 RNs per 100,000 population in Minnesota in 2000, higher than the national rate of 780.2.
  • Minnesota ranked 9th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/ Vocational Nurses (LPNs), with 341.9 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Minnesota ranked 15th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 16,870 workers.
  • Minnesota had 1,208 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 24.5 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, well below the national rate of 33.7.
  • With 138 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Minnesota had 2.8 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, comparable to the national rate of 2.9. Minnesota ranked 22n d among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 1,093 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Minnesota had 22.2 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, more than twice the national rate. Minnesota had one of the highest ratios of nurse anesthetists per capita in the nation.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 3,522 dentists, 3,410 dental hygienists, and 4,620 dental assistants practicing in Minnesota in 2000. There were 71.4 dentists per 100,000 population in Minnesota in 2000, compared to the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratios of dental hygienists and dental assistants were also above their respective national rates.
  • The number of dentists in Minnesota increased 31% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 11%. The result was an 18% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 3,720 pharmacists and 4,200 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Minnesota in 2000. Minnesota had 75.4 pharmacists and 85.1 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 27th and 25th, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 462 psychiatrists, 2,950 psychologists and 11,620 social workers in Minnesota in 2000. This was equal to 9.8 psychiatrists, 59.8 psychologists, and 235.5 social workers per 100,000 population. Minnesota ranked 28th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 5th among states in psychologists per capita, and 7th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 17,620 home health aides and 30,200 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Minnesota in 2000. Minnesota had 357.1 home health aides and 612 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 2nd and 13th, respectively, among the 50 states.