Aging CT healthcare workforce raises concerns about loss of expertise and capacity

Connecticut’s workforce is getting older, including healthcare, according to a new analysis by the state Dept. of Labor. This raises concerns about retirements, a loss of expertise, and capacity which could hit Connecticut hard. The share of all workers over age 54 rose from 20% in 2008 to 26.5% in the third quarter of last year. The number of state residents age 60 or over rose by 23% from 2009 to 2017, according to the US Census; this trend is expected to continue, increasing demand for healthcare services. While other sectors face higher percentages over 54, “Healthcare and Social assistance is the largest sector in the state overall, and employs the most workers over [age] 54, with over 71,000. This sector has had the largest total increase of over 54 workers, up 20,000 since 2008”, according to the report. Employment of healthcare workers under age 25 in fell 1,300 over the same years. In May of this year, one in eight (214,100) Connecticut workers were employed in healthcare.