Registered nursing is a quality, in-demand profession
Registered nurses (RNs) are the fourth largest occupation in the region, accounting for more than 17,000 workers. RNs typically earn around $80k per year, enough to support a single adult, and in some cases a family household.
Demand for nurses is high. The latest workforce survey from the Kentucky Hospital Association reported a shortage of more than 4,700 RNs throughout the Commonwealth. Demand for health care workers will continue to grow as the population ages and lives longer. Jobs in health sciences are projected to experience the fastest job growth over the next decade, with RNs accounting for a significant portion of the healthcare workforce.
Registered nurses are required to renew their license
Registered nurses in Kentucky are required to be licensed by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN), and renew their license annually. KBN added several workforce-related questions to the renewal process, providing interesting insights into the nursing workforce.
Nearly 70,000 individuals renewed their RN license last fall with the KBN during their latest renewal period, from 9/15/2023 - 11/1/2023.
Workers of color are underrepresented among Kentucky’s RNs
The demographics of the RN workforce are not representative of the state’s overall workforce. While non-Hispanic, white workers account for 82% of the Commonwealth’s workforce, they account for 91% of workers who renewed their RN license last fall. Workers of color, especially Black workers, are underrepresented among Kentucky’s RNs.
There are workers who renew their license even though they are not employed in nursing
More than 9,500 people renewed their RN license last fall and reported they were not actively employed in nursing. Only 5% of this count were individuals who live in another state.
Among those not actively employed in nursing, more than a third identified as retired. Another 20% indicated employment, but in a field that did not require their nursing license. There were an additional 4,000 people who renewed their RN license last fall but marked themselves as unemployed. Among these respondents, over half cited care responsibilities as their reason for unemployment. Access to reliable and affordable child care continues to be a significant barrier to employment, even in high-wage, in-demand roles like RNs.
The availability of licensed registered nurses is a critical part of the local economy. KBN’s license renewal data shows how many individuals renewed their RN license last fall, by workforce region, and by their identified employment status. For example, more than 16,400 people living in the KentuckianaWorks region renewed their RN license last fall. However, over 2,300 of these individuals identified as not actively working in nursing.
This analysis was made possible by the relationships formed through the Health Careers Collaborative of Greater Louisville, as part of KentuckianaWorks sector strategies initiatives.
