How Can Texas Fill Healthcare Workforce Gaps?

Texas Faces a Critical Health Care Workforce Shortage

Texas is currently experiencing a significant shortage of health care workers, which is putting the state’s access to medical care at risk. This issue has been highlighted by educators and workforce advocates, who point to multiple factors contributing to the crisis. One major concern is the high percentage of adults in Texas without health insurance—21.6% nationally, with Dallas County leading the state at 24%. This lack of coverage exacerbates the challenges faced by both patients and health care providers.

In Dallas County, life expectancy varies widely depending on the ZIP code, ranging from 67.6 years in some areas to 90.3 years in others. These disparities underscore the urgent need for improved access to health services. The situation was discussed at an event hosted by the Communities Foundation of Texas in June, where $9.7 million in grants were awarded to nonprofits working to expand health care access across North Texas.

Factors Contributing to the Shortage

The shortage of health care professionals in Texas stems from several interconnected issues. An aging population, losses of talent due to the pandemic, and rapid population growth that has outpaced workforce development are all contributing factors. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, registered nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners are among the fastest-growing occupations facing a demand-supply gap.

Projected growth through 2032 indicates that these roles will remain critical in the North Central Texas, Dallas, and Tarrant regions. Experts warn that Texas could face a shortage of over 57,000 nurses by 2030 if no action is taken. In response, the Healthcare Workforce Task Force, created by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, released a report last October with recommendations to address the issue. Proposed solutions include exploring the feasibility of establishing a workforce development initiative within Texas Medicaid and creating startup funds for apprenticeship programs.

Efforts to Address the Crisis

Several institutions in Texas are taking proactive steps to bridge the gap in the health care workforce. For example, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has implemented initiatives to reduce costs for nursing students by providing low-cost or no-cost digital materials. These efforts have saved students over $25 million so far.

State leaders and universities are also investing heavily in health care education and workforce development. In June, the Texas Legislature passed several laws aimed at strengthening the health care workforce pipeline. These include studying educational gaps in health physics, creating resources for workforce development, and streamlining coordination through new councils focused on health care and nursing jobs.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston announced a Future Nurses Fund that will provide free in-state tuition and fees to qualifying students in its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program starting in the 2026 spring semester. Similarly, the St. David’s Foundation has committed over $10 million to support schools, employers, and community organizations in enrolling over 1,200 students annually into health care certification and credentialing programs.

Collaborative Training Programs

Dallas College has partnered with several other institutions, including Tarrant County College, Navarro College, and Hill College, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, to provide training and more than $1.3 million in tuition assistance to health care students for the next four years. The college has expanded its allied health programs and added a bachelor’s degree in nursing, offering fast-track programs in fields such as phlebotomy and medical assisting.

Dallas College also signed an agreement with American College of Education to allow nursing students to concurrently enroll in the online college’s graduate program, reducing the time and cost required to earn a master’s degree.

Educate Texas and the HCA Healthcare Foundation have collaborated with high schools, colleges, and health care employers to create 157 health care programs at Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools and Early College High Schools. These programs have created career opportunities for over 10,000 students statewide.

Premier High School in DeSoto offers tuition-free health care career training programs, including a phlebotomy program and a certified medical assistant program planned for the 2026-27 school year. The program is part of a statewide initiative that combines high school diploma completion with career certifications.

Expanding Career Opportunities

The Uplift Education charter school network and Baylor Scott & White Health have opened health care career technical programs at Uplift Grand School in Grand Prairie and the Uplift Heights Healthcare Institute in West Dallas. Phil Kendzior, vice president of workforce development programs at Baylor Scott & White Health, emphasized that health care includes a wide range of careers beyond just doctors and nurses. Roles in radiology, pharmacy, phlebotomy, and marketing are also essential and do not always require a four-year degree.

Advice from Medical Students

For aspiring health care professionals, medical students at the Dallas College Brookhaven Campus offer valuable advice. They encourage young people to research different medical fields to find the job that best suits them. Angelica Baldazo, a student at Dallas College, shared her journey from wanting to become a nurse to discovering a passion for medical imaging. She highlights the importance of perseverance, noting that she applied twice before being accepted into the program.

Baldazo’s long-term goal is to specialize in mammography or MRI, fields she believes will allow her to contribute meaningfully to medical diagnostics, particularly in breast cancer research. Her experience underscores the value of dedication and the need to keep trying despite initial setbacks.