Dallas – September 18, 2026 -- A new Healthcare Workforce Outlook Index scored the U.S. healthcare workforce at just 38%, with none of its five underlying dimensions exceeding 50%, according to AMN Healthcare's 2026 Healthcare Workforce Outlook Survey released today.
Survey of 4,040 professionals exposes a 19-point gap between engagement and future readiness
The index, drawn from responses collected between Feb. 24 and March 31, 2026, measures employee engagement, organizational health, leadership and support, staffing confidence, and future readiness. Employee engagement scored highest at 48%, while future readiness scored lowest at 29%, a 19-point spread that AMN Healthcare says shows workers remain moderately engaged today but doubt the workforce's capacity to meet future demand.
Executives and frontline staff diverge sharply on leadership effectiveness
Fifty-eight percent of executives rated organizational leadership as effective, compared with only 28% of frontline workers, a 30-point perception gap. The survey included 947 clients, 2,889 candidates and 204 respondents from other healthcare categories, spanning hospitals, health systems, clinics, ambulatory networks, home health, academia and post-acute care settings.
Nurses report the weakest staffing and workload conditions of any group surveyed
Just 18% of nurses called current staffing levels adequate, and only 41% reported satisfaction with their workload. Nurses posted the lowest scores of all participant groups across every one of the five index dimensions. Despite this, 79% of nurses intend to remain in the nursing profession, while only 51% plan to stay with their current employer -- a 28-point loyalty gap between commitment to the field and commitment to the employer.
Staffing shortfalls translate directly into reported care disruptions
Eighty-five percent of nurses, 75% of allied health professionals and 72% of physicians said staffing-related disruptions to care occur at some frequency. AMN Healthcare frames this as evidence that staffing levels function as a clinical-risk and care-quality issue rather than solely an operational one.
Cary Grace, President and CEO of AMN Healthcare, said the findings show healthcare professionals remain committed to patient care, giving the industry "a strong foundation to build on,