Partnership Between Workforce Board and Hospital Association Addresses Staffing Shortages
(UCBJ) – More than 200 healthcare workers across Tennessee gained new skills and expanded career advancement opportunities through grants awarded by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) through the Tennessee Talent Initiative.
The funding was distributed through a partnership between the Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board and the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA).
The initiative provided specialized training to 211 clinical and nonclinical employees, helping healthcare providers strengthen their workforce.
A $244,713 investment through the Incumbent Worker Training program supported one of Tennessee’s priority industry sectors by improving employee retention, expanding career pathways and helping employers address ongoing workforce shortages in urban and rural communities.
Participating healthcare employers included Baptist Memorial Hospital, Prisma Health Blount Memorial Hospital, Greystone Foster Care, Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Williamson Health, Ascension Saint Thomas Medical Partners, Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown, HCA Health Services – TriStar Health and Covenant Health.
“Investing in incumbent workers is one of the most effective ways to strengthen Tennessee’s workforce while helping employers meet today’s challenges,” TDLWD Commissioner Deniece Thomas said. “These grants equipped healthcare professionals with new skills and credentials, helping employers retain valuable talent while ensuring Tennesseans continue to receive high-quality healthcare services.”
Healthcare remains one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing industries, with more than 80,000 new healthcare and social assistance jobs projected statewide by 2030. At the same time, THA projects the state could face a shortage of 8,500 registered nurses by 2035, highlighting the need for continued workforce investment.
The Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board partnered with THA to connect hospitals with training opportunities tailored to their workforce needs. The collaboration also strengthened partnerships between local workforce development boards and healthcare employers across the state.
“Our goal is to provide employers with workforce solutions that produce measurable results,” said Marla Rye, executive director of the Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board. “This investment enabled healthcare organizations to enhance the skills of their existing workforce while creating opportunities for employees to grow professionally. Those outcomes benefit employers, workers, and the communities they serve.”
THA served as a statewide liaison between participating hospitals and the workforce system, helping ensure healthcare employers could take advantage of available training resources.
“Tennessee hospitals are continually investing in their workforce to meet the growing healthcare needs of our communities,” said Ferrol Thomas, director of workforce strategies for THA. “Our partnership with the Northern Middle Tennessee Workforce Development Board demonstrates how collaboration can strengthen the healthcare workforce, improve retention, and help hospitals continue providing exceptional care across Tennessee, especially in rural communities.”
The Incumbent Worker Training program helps Tennessee employers upgrade the skills of their existing workforce, enabling businesses to remain competitive while increasing employee productivity, retention and career advancement opportunities.
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