The Wyoming Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

State Health Workforce Profiles Highlights Wyoming

Printer-friendly Wyoming Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

• There were nearly 18,000 people employed in the health sector in Wyoming in 2000, 7.7% of Wyoming’s total workforce, lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Wyoming ranked 39th among states in per capita health services employment.
• Health services employment in Wyoming grew 48% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 6% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 39% in health services sector employment, higher than the national rate of growth (21%).
• The total population of Wyoming is projected to grow 36% between 2000 and 2020, while the population 65 and over is projected to grow 113 % between 2000 and 2020.
• In 1999, Wyoming was well below the national rates of deaths due to cancer and heart disease and above the national rate of deaths due to firearms. Wyoming had one of the lowest incidences of both TB and reported AIDS cases in the country in 2000.
• In 2000, Wyoming ranked 10th in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

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

Medicine

• There were over 760 active patient care physicians in Wyoming in 2000. With 155 physicians per 100,000 population, Wyoming was well below the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Wyoming ranked 46th among states in physicians per capita.
• Wyoming had 61 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, less than the national rate of 69.
• The number of physicians in Wyoming grew 26% between 1989 and 2000, while the population grew only 8% over this period, leading to a net per capita growth of 17%, equal to the national per capita increase.
• There were 37 physician assistants practicing in Wyoming in 2000. This was equal to 7.5 physician assistants per 100,000 population, abouthalf of the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

• There were more than 4,500 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Wyoming in 2000; nearly 3,850 were employed in nursing. There were 779 RNs per 100,000 population in Wyoming in 2000, comparable to the national rate of 780.2.
• Wyoming ranked 44th among the states in the per capita employment of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) in 2000, with 153.8 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000. Wyoming ranked 49th in the number of LPNs employed in 2000 with 760 workers.
• Wyoming had over 130 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 26.9 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, compared to the national rate of 33.7.
• With 8 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Wyoming had 1.6 certified nurse midwife per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 2.9. Wyoming ranked 38th among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
• With 37 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Wyoming had 7.5 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

• There were 330 dentists, 320 dental hygienists, and 420 dental assistants practicing in Wyoming in 2000. There were 66.8 dentists per 100,000 population in Wyoming in 2000, slightly above the national rate of 63.6. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists was above the national rate.
• The number of dentists in Wyoming grew 46% between 1991 and 2000 while the state’s population grew 8%. The result was a 35% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
• There were 440 pharmacists and 270 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Wyoming in 2000. Wyoming had 89.1 pharmacists and 54.6 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 6th and 48th, respectively, among the 50 states.
• There were 26 psychiatrists, 220 psychologists, and 420 social workers in Wyoming in 2000. This was equal to 5.4 psychiatrists, 44.5 psychologists, and 85 social workers per 100,000 population. Wyoming ranked 49th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 12th among states in psychologists per capita, and 49th among states in social workers per capita.

Aides

• There were 530 home health aides and 2,280 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants working in Wyoming in 2000. Wyoming had 107.3 home health aides and 461.5 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 41st and 28th, respectively, among the 50 states.