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.

Automated summary

This study investigated the use of epidemiology job classifications, career ladders, and professional competencies in state health departments in the United States. The results showed that most state health departments have specific job classifications and career ladders for epidemiologists, which were believed to positively contribute to recruitment and retention of epidemiologists. However, only a minority of state epidemiologists used applied epidemiology competencies to develop career ladders.