The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of registered nurses will grow 6% between 2022 and 2032. About 193,100 openings for RNs are projected each year on average over the decade as workers move to different occupations or depart the labor force, such as to retire.
This comes as an adequate supply of nurses will be needed to address a rising demand for healthcare, and as nursing shortages affect states across the U.S.
On March 1, Medical Solutions, a healthcare staffing company, released the 20 states where nurses are needed the most based on the most current nurse-to-state population ratios and projected need by 2030. Ratios in the report were from Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics data published in NurseJournal. Projected need by 2030 is from Projections Central, a site sponsored by the Labor Department.
Here are the 20 states where nurses are needed the most, per the Medical Solutions article:
Note: States are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona
Ratio: 7.61 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 22,980 nurses
California
Ratio: 8.34 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 35,000 nurses
Colorado
Ratio: 8.97 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 15,170 nurses
Florida
Ratio: 8.88 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 27,390 nurses
Georgia
Ratio: 7.6 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 13,260 nurses
Illinois
Ratio: 10.28 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 6,250 nurses
Indiana
Ratio: 9.86 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 5,210 nurses
Maryland
Ratio: 8.08 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 12,320 nurses
Michigan
Ratio: 10.11 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 8,160 nurses
Nevada
Ratio: 7.54 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 5,590 nurses
New Jersey
Ratio: 8.46 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 7,190 nurses
New York
Ratio: 9.68 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 33,420 nurses
North Carolina
Ratio: 9.75 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 11,770 nurses
Pennsylvania
10.64 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 13,100 nurses
South Carolina
8.33 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 4,990 nurses
Tennessee
Ratio: 8.63 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 10,870 nurses
Texas
Ratio: 7.69 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 37,740 nurses
Utah
Ratio: 6.75 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 4,980 nurses
Virginia
Ratio: 8.00 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 5,560 nurses
Washington
Ratio: 8.34 nurses per 1,000 people
Projected need by 2030: 9,990 nurses