Use of Job Classifications, Career Ladders, and the Applied Epidemiology Competencies to Support Recruitment, Retention, and Practice of State Health Department Epidemiologists.

CONTEXT

State health departments report that recruitment and retention of qualified epidemiologists is a significant challenge to ensuring epidemiology capacity to support essential public health services.

OBJECTIVE

To collect information on the use of epidemiology job classifications, career ladders, and professional competencies in state health departments to inform workforce development activities that improve epidemiology capacity.

DESIGN

Electronic survey of the designated state epidemiologist.

SETTING

Fifty state health departments and the District of Columbia.

PARTICIPANTS

State epidemiologists working in state health departments.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Use and perceived benefit of epidemiology job classifications, career ladders, and professional competencies.

RESULTS

All 50 states and the District of Columbia responded to the survey. Most state health departments reported having epidemiology-specific job classifications (n = 44, 90%) and career ladders (n = 36, 71%) in place. State epidemiologists strongly agreed or agreed that having an epidemiology-specific classification positively contributed to recruitment (n = 37, 84%) and retention (n = 29, 66%) of epidemiologists in their agency. State epidemiologists strongly agreed or agreed that having an epidemiology-specific career ladder positively contributed to recruitment (n = 24, 69%) and retention (n = 23, 66%) of epidemiologists in their agency. Only 10 (29%) state epidemiologists reported using the applied epidemiology competencies to develop or revise their jurisdiction's epidemiology career ladder.

CONCLUSIONS

State health departments should implement well-maintained epidemiology-specific job classifications and career ladders that are based on current epidemiology competencies. Career ladders should be supported with opportunities for competency-based training to support career progression.