California’s shortage of health workers has reached crisis levels and imperils Californians’ ability to access the care they need to live healthy lives. State policymakers have acted in the past five years to expand and diversify the health workforce by funding various programs and services to recruit, educate, train, and retain health workers. As the state faces a substantial budget shortfall in fiscal year 2024–25, it is critical that these investments be sustained.

This Q&A publication provides a brief overview of the need to invest in California’s health workforce, state leaders’ recent actions, the current array of health workforce development programs, and the importance of maintaining and building upon the progress made thus far.

In this explainer, learn answers to these questions:

Why should California continue to invest in the health workforce? Understand the critical reasons behind the need for sustained investment in the health workforce to ensure access to care for all Californians.

What are state and philanthropic leaders doing to create the health workforce California needs? Learn about the collaborative initiatives by state and philanthropic leaders aimed at addressing the health workforce shortage.

What California programs are available to expand and diversify the health workforce? Discover the various programs and services available in California designed to recruit, educate, train, and retain health workers from diverse backgrounds.

How have California policymakers invested in the health workforce? Get insights into the investments made by California policymakers over the past five years to support the health workforce.

What actions could California policymakers take to further strengthen the health workforce? Explore potential actions and strategies that California policymakers could adopt to further enhance and support the state’s health workforce.

This publication is the first in a series to explore state, federal, and philanthropic efforts to expand and diversify the health workforce in California.