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Staffing Shortage

AMN Healthcare Survey: Workforce Index Hits 38%, Nurses Hit Hardest

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AMN Healthcare Survey: Workforce Index Hits 38%, Nurses Hit Hardest

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.