Houston Labor Market Pulse
2009 RN Fall Brief
Vacancy Index & Recruitment Activity Indicators
Q3-September 2009
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.
Q3 Update: Houston RN Vacancies Dip Again
• RN recruitment activity, as measured by the Labor Market Pulse® Vacancy Index, dropped to its lowest level of the year during Q3 2009, diving to 2.8%, but rose again to end Q3 at 3.2%
• Of the facilities tracked, 3 Memorial Hermann facilities (TIRR, Katy, and Northwest) registered the highest number of vacancies
• 87% of all current job postings are for full time positions, the highest percentage in the past 3 quarters.
• 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 base period is a duration of 6 weeks, ending October 28, 2008