registered nurses employed
Employment in the United States in 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses, 2023 employment dataHealthcare Staffing Resources
U.S. workforce reference
Healthcare staffing statistics: U.S. nursing workforce.
Key employment, growth, and annual opening figures for registered nurses, LPNs and LVNs, and nursing assistants. Updated September 18, 2026.
At a glance
Staffing pressure spans every level of the care team.
Healthcare facilities need to plan around more than an individual vacancy. The workforce data below shows the scale of the nursing talent market, from registered nurses to licensed practical and vocational nurses to nursing assistants.
Each figure links directly to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational outlook. Use the section links to cite a specific statistic.
Registered nurses
Registered nurse workforce data.
projected RN employment growth
Projected from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses, 2023-33 projectionprojected RN openings each year
Average annual openings projected from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses, 2023-33 projectionLPNs and LVNs
Practical and vocational nursing data.
LPN and LVN jobs
Employment in the United States in 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, 2023 employment dataprojected LPN and LVN growth
Projected from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, 2023-33 projectionprojected LPN and LVN openings each year
Average annual openings projected from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, 2023-33 projectionNursing assistants
Direct care workforce data.
nursing assistants employed
Employment in the United States in 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, 2023 employment dataprojected nursing assistant growth
Projected from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, 2023-33 projectionprojected nursing assistant openings each year
Average annual openings projected from 2023 to 2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, 2023-33 projectionWhat these figures mean
Use workforce data to make the next staffing decision clearer.
Employment projections are national estimates, not a measure of immediate availability in a particular city, specialty, or shift. Local demand, required credentials, care setting, and scheduling needs all affect the right staffing approach.
For facilities managing current coverage pressure, the practical question is what role is needed, where the clinician will work, and when the assignment begins. CareOnePlus helps facilities discuss temporary staffing, direct hire, and contract-to-direct-hire options for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, CNAs, and PCTs.
Methodology and sources
How this page is maintained.
This page uses U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook data. The figures above use 2023 employment levels and projections for 2023 through 2033, the most recent series cited on this page as of September 18, 2026. CareOnePlus will review the page when the Bureau publishes a newer occupational projection series.
- Registered Nurses, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Nursing Assistants and Orderlies, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Cite this page
CareOnePlus HealthCare Staffing LLC. “Healthcare Staffing Statistics: U.S. Nursing Workforce.” Updated September 18, 2026. https://careoneplushealthcarestaffing.com/healthcare-staffing-statistics
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