The Hidden Crisis in the Times of COVID-19: Critical Shortages of Medical Laboratory Professionals in Clinical Microbiology

The COVID pandemic has put a spotlight on laboratory medicine, showcasing how vital diagnostic testing is for society and the health care system. It has also brought to light and accelerated the critical shortage of trained and experienced laboratory personnel that has been felt for decades. The need for laboratory professionals is expected to grow by 11% between 2020 and 2030, a higher rate of growth than the overall average for all other health care occupations. Here, the background to this workforce shortage is reviewed. Some proposed actions to help address the issue are put forth, including increasing awareness of the medical laboratory science profession along with bolstering training opportunities and awareness of alternate routes to obtaining certification as a medical laboratory scientist. In addition, recent survey data specifically related to the employee shortages in microbiology are presented which demonstrate that 80% of microbiology laboratories have vacant positions and that filling these positions is challenging for a number of reasons, including a lack of qualified applicants.

Automated summary

The COVID pandemic has highlighted the importance of laboratory medicine and the critical shortage of trained laboratory personnel. The need for laboratory professionals is expected to grow by 11% by 2030. Proposed actions to address this issue include increasing awareness of the medical laboratory science profession and providing more training opportunities. Recent survey data shows that 80% of microbiology laboratories have vacant positions due to a lack of qualified applicants.