The Illinois Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile

State Health Workforce Profiles Highlights Illinois

Printer-friendly Illinois Highlights (PDF - 41 KB)

• There were more than 500,500 people employed in the health sector in Illinois in 2000, 8.4% of Illinois’ total workforce, slightly lower than the national rate of 8.8%. Illinois ranked 28th among states in per capita health services employment.
• Health services employment in Illinois grew 34% between 1988 and 2000, while the state’s population grew by 9% during that period, resulting in a net per capita growth of 22% in health services sector employment, comparable to the national growth rate of 21%.
• The total population of Illinois is projected to grow 5% between 2000 and 2020. The population 65 and over is projected to grow 31% between 2000 and 2020.
• In 1999, the rates of deaths due to cancer and heart disease were slightly above their respective national rates and the rate of deaths due to firearms was slightly below the national rate.
• In 2000, Illinois was ranked 23rd among states in the number of hospital beds per 100,000 population.

Highlights of the findings about the health workforce in Illinois are presented below.

Medicine

• There were more than 24,300 active patient care physicians in Illinois in 2000. With 195 physicians per 100,000 population, Illinois was comparable to the national ratio of 198 physicians per 100,000. Illinois ranked 17th among states in physicians per capita.
• Illinois had 70 active primary care physicians per 100,000 population in 2000, comparable to the rate for the entire country.
• Medical schools in Illinois graduated 1,159 new physicians in 2000. Illinois ranked 5th among the 46 states with medical schools in number of medical school graduates. Illinois ranked 10th among the 46 states with medical schools in medical school graduates per capita.
• There were 1,349 physician assistants practicing in Illinois in 2000. This was equal to 10.8 physician assistants per 100,000 population, below the national rate of 14.4.

Nursing

• There were more than 126,000 licensed registered nurses (RNs) in Illinois in 2000; over 101,600 were employed in nursing. This was equal to 817.1 RNs per 100,000 population in Illinois in 2000, higher than the national rate of 780.2.
• Illinois ranked 7th among the states in the number of Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPNs) employed in 2000 with 22,690 workers. Illinois ranked 37th in the per capita employment of LPNs, with 182.4 LPNs per 100,000 population as compared to the national rate of 240.8 per 100,000,
• Illinois had 2,199 nurse practitioners in 2000. This was equal to 17.7 nurse practitioners per 100,000 population, substantially below the national rate of 33.7. Illinois had one of the lowest ratios of nurse practitioners per capita of all the states.
• With 228 certified nurse midwives in 2000, Illinois had 1.8 certified nurse midwives per 100,000 population, less than the national rate of 2.9. Illinois ranked 33rd among states in certified nurse midwives per capita.
• With 869 certified registered nurse anesthetists in 2003, Illinois had 7.0 nurse anesthetists per 100,000 population, lower than the national rate of 9.3.

Dentistry, Pharmacy and Mental Health

• There were 8,475 dentists, 7,300 dental hygienists, and 11,850 dental assistants practicing in Illinois in 2000. There were 68.1 dentists per 100,000 population in Illinois in 2000, above the national rate of 63.6. Illinois ranked 13th in the nation in dentists per capita. The per capita ratio of dental hygienists and dental assistants were also higher their respective national rates.
• The number of dentists in Illinois grew 18% between 1991 and 2000, while the state’s population grew 8%. The result was a 9% increase in dentists per capita compared to a 16% increase nationwide.
• There were 10,260 pharmacists and 13,830 pharmacy technicians and aides practicing in Illinois in 2000. Illinois had 82.5 pharmacists and 111.2 pharmacy technicians and aides per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked them 17th and 5th, respectively, among the 50 states.
• There were 1,396 psychiatrists, 5,430 psychologists and 24,170 social workers in Illinois in 2000. This was equal to 11.6 psychiatrists, 43.6 psychologists, and 194.3 social workers per 100,000 population. Illinois ranked 16th among states in psychiatrists per capita, 13th in psychologists per capita, and 15th in social workers per capita.

Aides

• Illinois had 93.3 home health aides and 405.3 nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants per 100,000 population in 2000, which ranked 47th and 35th, respectively, among the 50 states.