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. 

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

• Incorporate the 2023 Applied Epidemiology Competencies (AECs) into undergraduate and graduate curricula to prepare graduates for careers in governmental 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). 

• Promote entering the field of applied epidemiology through fellowship programs such as AEF where graduates can get real-world experience in the field and other initiatives funded through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC).

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. 

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

• Incorporate the 2023 Applied Epidemiology Competencies (AECs) into undergraduate and graduate curricula to prepare graduates for careers in governmental public health.

• Promote entering the field of applied epidemiology through fellowship programs such as AEF where graduates can get real-world experience in the field and other initiatives funded through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC).

• 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. 

Health Departments

• Incorporate the 2023 Applied Epidemiology Competencies (AECs) into undergraduate and graduate curricula to prepare graduates for careers in governmental 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). 

• Promote entering the field of applied epidemiology through fellowship programs such as AEF where graduates can get real-world experience in the field and other initiatives funded through the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Center (PHIC).