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CEDAR PARK, Texas – As Central Texas continues to grow, so does the need for the healthcare workforce that keeps its communities healthy. Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA), in partnership with Workforce Solutions Capital Area and Opportunity Austin, has released a comprehensive new regional study designed to help Central Texas prepare for that growing demand.

The Central Texas Healthcare Workforce Needs and Education Pipeline Study examines where healthcare jobs are growing, which occupations are in greatest demand, what employers are experiencing and how education and training align with workforce needs across Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, Travis and Williamson counties.

The study represents a proactive investment by the WSRCA Board of Directors on behalf of the region. By bringing together workforce data, employer perspectives, education capacity and county-level needs, the study gives employers, educators and community leaders a shared roadmap for strengthening the healthcare talent pipeline and preparing for continued growth.

Central Texas added 24,837 healthcare jobs between 2019 and 2025, with another 14,178 new jobs projected between 2026 and 2031. Healthcare represented 7.7% of all jobs across the 10-county region in 2025.

“Our Board took on this study because healthcare workforce needs touch every community we serve,” WSRCA CEO Paul Fletcher said. “We wanted to go beyond identifying where the jobs are growing and give our region something it can act on. This study helps employers, educators, workforce partners and community leaders see where the greatest needs and opportunities are so we can work together to expand pathways and prepare for the growth ahead.”

Growing Demand Creates Opportunity

The study projects nearly 13,900 healthcare job openings annually across the region through 2031, including both new jobs and openings created as workers leave occupations.

Registered nurses are projected to account for approximately 1,455 openings each year and licensed vocational nurses another 400. Significant demand also exists for home health and personal care aides, nursing assistants, medical assistants, dental assistants and pharmacy technicians.

Many of these careers also offer accessible entry points into healthcare. Eleven of the 15 highest-demand occupations typically require less than a bachelor’s degree, opening pathways through certificates, associate degrees and other training options. Together, those 15 occupations are expected to account for 72% of the region’s healthcare job growth through 2031.

Expanding Pathways Across Central Texas

While opportunities are growing, access to healthcare education and training isn’t evenly distributed. The study found that Blanco, Caldwell, Lee and Llano counties currently have no identified postsecondary healthcare training providers, highlighting an opportunity to bring more training closer to where people live and work.

The report identifies opportunities to expand training in high-demand fields including physical therapist assistants, dental hygienists and assistants, certified medical assistants and medical imaging occupations. It also recommends increasing clinical placements, strengthening pathways from entry-level healthcare positions into nursing careers and expanding apprenticeships and other earn-and-learn models that can help employers develop talent locally.

Building that pipeline starts well before adulthood. Across the region’s 67 independent school districts (ISDs), thousands of students are already participating in healthcare-related Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, including nursing science, biomedical science, health informatics and diagnostic and therapeutic services. The study recommends building on that interest through additional certifications, career exploration and work-based learning opportunities.

“Healthcare employers and education providers across Central Texas have already made tremendous strides in building a strong healthcare talent pipeline,” WSRCA Chief Solutions Officer Kelly Moreno said. “As our region continues to grow, we have an opportunity to build on that progress by expanding pathways, strengthening partnerships and making education and training more accessible so people can pursue healthcare careers close to home.”

Turning Research Into Regional Action

For WSRCA and its Board of Directors, releasing the study is a starting point. Building on the study’s findings, WSRCA and its partners will help convene healthcare employers and education providers to address county-level gaps and advance practical strategies that expand career opportunities for Central Texans and strengthen the healthcare systems their communities depend on.

The report includes individual profiles for each of the 10 counties studied, recognizing that healthcare workforce needs and training capacity can look very different across urban, suburban and rural communities.

The Central Texas Healthcare Workforce Needs and Education Pipeline Study was developed with input from healthcare employers, education providers, and workforce partners throughout the region.

Explore the full report on the WSRCA website: https://workforcesolutionsrca.com/blog/central-texas-healthcare-workforce-needs-and-education-pipeline-study

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About Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA)

WSRCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community partnership and the certified workforce authority for the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas, which includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, and Williamson counties. WSRCA strengthens regional prosperity by connecting people, employers, and opportunities through no-cost services such as career coaching, training in high-demand fields, child care tuition scholarships, hiring events, and labor market insights. By equipping residents with skills for career success and providing employers with tailored workforce solutions, WSRCA helps ensure the region remains competitive, resilient, and ready for growth.