The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a severe toll on the industry worldwide. These more recent impacts have added to longstanding financial and operational challenges against a backdrop of intensifying demand.

High turnover and difficulty in recruiting new employees are exacerbating risks associated with the quality of care as well as generating operational, reputational, and legal costs. To attract and retain more workers, more needs to be done — with adequate funding and stakeholder support — to improve pay, working conditions, and career prospects.

Workers’ knowledge and skills are not keeping pace as consumer requirements increase and become more complex. To sustain care quality and patient outcomes, providers should explore team-based ways of working, co-invest in workers’ capabilities, and support policies favorable to hiring and training staff.