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National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
 

The Wisconsin Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

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State Health Workforce Profiles
Highlights
Wisconsin

Printer-friendly Wisconsin Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

  • There were nearly 244,000 people employed in the health sector in Wisconsin in 2000, 8.9% of Wisconsin’s total workforce, comparable to the national rate of 8.8%. Wisconsin ranked 16th among states in per capita health services employment.
  • Health services employment in Wisconsin grew 36% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 11% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 22% in health services sector employment, comparable to the national rate of growth (21%).
  • The total population of Wisconsin is projected to grow 8% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 48% between 2000 and 2020.
  • In 1999, Wisconsin was below the national rates of deaths due to cancer, heart disease and firearms. The rate of incidences of TB and rate of reported AIDS cases in 2000 were lower than their respective national rates.
  • In 2000, Wisconsin was close to the national rate in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

  • There were nearly 10,170 active patient care physicians in Wisconsin in 2000. With 189 physicians per 100,000 population, Wisconsin was lower than the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Wisconsin ranked 25th among states in physicians per capita.
  • Wisconsin had 71 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, slightly higher than the national rate of 69.
  • Medical schools in Wisconsin graduated 359 new physicians in 2000. Wisconsin ranked 18th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. On a per capita basis, Wisconsin graduated 6.8 new physicians per 100,000 population, higher than the national rate of 6.4 and ranked 18th among the 46 states in medical school graduates per capita.
  • There were 1,070 physician assistants practicing in Wisconsin in 2000. This was equal to 19.9 physician assistants per 100,000 population, above the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

  • There were more than 58,650 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Wisconsin in 2000; nearly 47,900 were employed in nursing. There were 891.2 RNs per 100,000 population in Wisconsin in 2000, more than the national rate of 780.2.
  • Wisconsin ranked 21st among the states in the number of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) employed in 2000 with 12,160 workers. Wisconsin ranked 27th in the per capita employment of LPNs, with 226.3 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000.
  • Wisconsin had more than 1,000 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 18.9 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, substantially less than the national rate of 33.7. Wisconsin had one of the lowest ratios of nurse practitioners per capita in the nation.
  • With nearly 100 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Wisconsin had 1.8 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 2.9. Wisconsin ranked 34th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
  • With 498 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Wisconsin had 9.3 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, equal to the national rate.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

  • There were 3,071 dentists, 3,230 dental hygienists, and 5,800 dental assistants practicing in Wisconsin in 2000. There were 57.1 dentists per 100,000 population in Wisconsin in 2000, below the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratios of dental hygienists and dental assistants were above their respective national rate.
  • The number of dentists in Wisconsin grew 6% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 9%. The result was a 3% decline in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
  • There were 3,880 pharmacists and 5,240 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Wisconsin in 2000. Wisconsin had 72.2 pharmacists and 97.5 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 33rd and 12th, respectively, among the 50 states.
  • There were 528 psychiatrists, 2,910 psychologists, and 9,250 social workers in Wisconsin in 2000. This was equal to 10.1 psychiatrists, 54.1 psychologists, and 172.1 social workers per 100,000 population. Wisconsin ranked 24th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 7th among states in psychologists per capita, and 23rd among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

  • There were 11,310 home health aides and 39,940 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Wisconsin in 2000. Wisconsin had 210.4 home health aides and 743.2 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 15th and 3rd, respectively, among the 50 states.