Newsletter – Workforce Signals for Healthcare Leaders

What changed in January (key healthcare staffing events)

1️⃣ Healthcare job openings data released for November 2025

In early January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated JOLTS data showing healthcare demand remains elevated.

  • Healthcare & Social Assistance job openings: 1.254 million (Nov 2025)

  • Healthcare job openings rate: 5.0%

📌 Released January 7, 2026
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (JOLTS) via FRED

Why it matters:
Despite broader labor market cooling, healthcare openings remain structurally high, especially for clinical and specialty roles.

2️⃣ Healthcare hiring activity showed limited acceleration

The same January release showed hiring rates did not rise proportionally with open roles.

  • Healthcare hires rate: 2.4% (Nov 2025)

📌 Released January 7, 2026
Source: BLS JOLTS

Why it matters:
Open roles aren’t closing faster, reinforcing the need for speed, clarity, and early candidate alignment.

3️⃣ Updated national nursing turnover benchmarks published

In January, NSI Nursing Solutions released updated retention benchmarks reflecting 2025 reporting.

  • Average RN turnover: 16.4%

  • First-year RN turnover: 22.3%

📌 Published January 2026
Source: NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report

Why it matters:
Early-career attrition continues to drive replacement hiring volume, particularly in high-acuity settings.

January Staff Pad highlights

  • Healthcare placements started: 16

  • Interviews coordinated: 36

  • Roles filled in January:
    We successfully filled roles across Registered Nurse (RN), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Interventional Pain, Ultrasound Technologist, Operating Room Support Technician, Mental Health Technician, Occupational Therapy Assistant (PRN), Pharmacist – Ambulatory Care, Patient Access Specialist

January workforce fact 

An American Hospital Association workforce brief published in January highlighted that nearly 1 in 5 newly licensed nurses leave the profession within their first year.

📌 Published January 2026
Source: American Hospital Association Workforce Scan

If healthcare staffing challenges slowed hiring for your team in January, we’re always open to sharing what we’re seeing across roles, regions, and specialties.

— The Staff Pad

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