CSTE

Epidemiology

Capacity Assessment

CSTE

Epidemiology

Capacity Assessment

The ability of the U.S. public health system to protect us from current and emerging health threats is at stake.

The ability of the U.S. public health system to protect us from current and emerging health threats is at stake.

The CSTE Epidemiology Capacity Assessment (ECA) report is the most complete and comprehensive national data on the U.S. applied epidemiology workforce. For over 20 years, CSTE has reported on staffing, vacancies, funding, training needs, and other domains for applied epidemiologists, the key sector of the U.S. public health workforce.  

The 2024 ECA reflects data from all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and for the first time, territories. Additional data are also available on the epidemiology capacity of 35 large city health departments. The 2024 ECA reveals that applied epidemiology workforce and capacity needs in health departments remain unmet and are in danger of declining further without sustained funding. 

The CSTE Epidemiology Capacity Assessment (ECA) report is the most complete and comprehensive national data on the U.S. applied epidemiology workforce. For over 20 years, CSTE has reported on staffing, vacancies, funding, training needs, and other domains for applied epidemiologists, the key sector of the U.S. public health workforce.  

The 2024 ECA reflects data from all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and for the first time, territories. Additional data are also available on the epidemiology capacity of 35 large city health departments. The 2024 ECA reveals that applied epidemiology workforce and capacity needs in health departments remain unmet and are in danger of declining further without sustained funding. 

State Of The Applied Epidemiology Workforce

The number of epidemiologists is currently below the need and states anticipate losing nearly one-fifth (more than 1,000) of existing staff with the end of COVID-19 pandemic funding.  

Current Number Of Epidemiologists In State Health Departments

Additional Epidemiologists Needed In State Health Departments To Meet Basic Public Health Needs

%

Increase Needed in Staffing Over Current Levels In Territorial Jurisdictions

%

Increase Needed Over Current Staffing Levels For Tribal Epidemiologists In State Health Departments

Nearly half of the applied epidemiology workforce is concentrated in infectious disease, while genomics/AMD, occupational health, oral health, mental health, and tribal comprise less than 3% of the total workforce.

Most states still lack a lead in oral health, genomics/advanced molecular detection, reproductive health, generalist, tribal and mental health.

Genomics/AMD had the greatest increase in epidemiology capacity.

The greatest number of positions needed are in infectious disease areas, informatics, chronic disease, maternal and child health, and environmental health.

State Of The Applied Epidemiology Workforce

The number of epidemiologists is currently below the need and states anticipate losing nearly one-fifth (more than 1,000) of existing staff with the end of COVID-19 pandemic funding.  

Current Number Of Epidemiologists In State Health Departments

Additional Epidemiologists Needed In State Health Departments To Meet Basic Public Health Needs

%

Increase Needed in Staffing Over Current Levels In Territorial Jurisdictions

%

Increase Needed Over Current Staffing Levels For Tribal Epidemiologists In State Health Departments

Nearly half of the applied epidemiology workforce is concentrated in infectious disease, while genomics/AMD, occupational health, oral health, mental health, and tribal comprise less than 3% of the total workforce.

Most states still lack a lead in oral health, genomics/AMD, reproductive health, generalist, tribal and mental health.

Genomics/AMD had the greatest increase in epidemiology capacity.

The greatest number of positions needed are in infectious disease areas, informatics, chronic disease, maternal and child health, and environmental health.

Learn

What Can Be Done

Policy Makers

  • Provide long-term flexible, disease-agnostic funding streams that allow jurisdictions to prioritize the needs of their community. 
  • Increase topline funding for CDC—the most important source of funding to support the public health workforce across all states, territories, tribes and communities.

○ Increase federal base funding for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) to at least $120 million annually to support flexible response ready epidemiologists able to handle any disease threat

○ Increase federal annual funding for public health data modernization to at least $340 million to ensure jurisdictions have the ability to hire full time epidemiology staff to implement data modernization efforts

    • Retain staff from the COVID-19 pandemic as permanent positions in health departments. 
    • Include response-ready (or flexible) epidemiologists in funding opportunities to allow departments to meet the specific needs of their communities, during daily and emergency operations. 

    • Dedicate support for careers in applied epidemiology, including professional pathways to enter the field such as CSTE’s Applied Epidemiology fellowship programs and other initiatives funded through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC).

    Schools And Programs Of Public Health

    • Promote capacity building by facilitating internship opportunities for students at health departments (and creating virtual opportunities for health departments without a geographically nearby academic institution). 

      Health Departments

      • Provide education and outreach on civil service testing and hiring requirements to enhance access to careers in governmental public health. 
      • Provide opportunities for flexible schedules and telework to expand the applicant pool, increase employee satisfaction and reduce burnout. 
      • Recognize staff contributions and accomplishments as a tool to foster retention and demonstrate appreciation of their institutional knowledge. 
      • Facilitate protected, dedicated time and leadership support for professional development of personnel. 
          Learn

          What Can Be Done

          Policy Makers

          • Provide long-term flexible, disease-agnostic funding streams that allow jurisdictions to prioritize the needs of their community. 
          • Increase topline funding for CDC—the most important source of funding to support the public health workforce across all states, territories, tribes and communities.

          ○ Increase federal base funding for Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) to at least $120 million annually to support flexible response ready epidemiologists able to handle any disease threat

          ○ Increase federal annual funding for public health data modernization to at least $340 million to ensure jurisdictions have the ability to hire full time epidemiology staff to implement data modernization efforts

            • Retain staff from the COVID-19 pandemic as permanent positions in health departments. 
            • Include response-ready (or flexible) epidemiologists in funding opportunities to allow departments to meet the specific needs of their communities, during daily and emergency operations. 

            • Dedicate support for careers in applied epidemiology, including professional pathways to enter the field such as CSTE’s Applied Epidemiology fellowship programs and other initiatives funded through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC).

            Schools And Programs Of Public Health

            • Promote capacity building by facilitating internship opportunities for students at health departments (and creating virtual opportunities for health departments without a geographically nearby academic institution). 

            Health Departments

            • Provide education and outreach on civil service testing and hiring requirements to enhance access to careers in governmental public health. 
            • Provide opportunities for flexible schedules and telework to expand the applicant pool, increase employee satisfaction and reduce burnout. 
            • Recognize staff contributions and accomplishments as a tool to foster retention and demonstrate appreciation of their institutional knowledge. 
            • Facilitate protected, dedicated time and leadership support for professional development of personnel. 

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                This publication was supported in part by the CDC cooperative agreement number 1 NU38OT000297-02. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC