Houston Labor Market Pulse
2010 RN Spring Brief
Vacancy Index & Recruitment Activity Indicators
Hospital RN vacancy rates are a great indicator of RN shortages in the market and an individual facility’s ability to address labor challenges. However, vacancy rates are often not disclosed so it can be difficult to assess if certain areas or facilities are facing greater challenges than others. The Labor Market Pulse® Vacancy Index fills this knowledge gap in the market.
Spring 2010 Update: Houston RN Vacancies Remain at Constant
• RN recruitment activity, as measured by the Labor Market Pulse® Vacancy Index, has fallen slightly since the beginning of 2010, but has remained fairly consistent over the last three months.
• Of the local facilities tracked, Methodist Willowbrook, Memorial Hermann Northwest, and Methodist Sugarland registered the highest number of vacancies.
• Since early 2010, per diem vacancies are on the rise, while full time positions have returned to lower levels.
• The RN Job Posting Index captures the acceleration or decline of recruitment activity, regardless of changes in hospital bed size and FTE’s employed
• A value of more than 100 indicates intensifying recruitment activity, and a value of less than 100 indicates easing of recruitment activity
• The tracking initiative began in October 2008 with the inaugural 6-week base period ending October 28, 2008