Competency Gaps Among Governmental Public Health Employees With and Without a Formal Public Health Degree: Where Are We Now?

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine whether differences in self-reported core competency skill gaps among U.S. governmental public health workers with and without a formal degree in public health have changed since the last assessment in 2017.

Design: This cross-sectional study utilizes data from the 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS). Bivariate relationships were analyzed by conducting chi-square tests of respondents' supervisory level and reported skill gaps. Multivariate logistic regressions of reported skill gaps were performed holding gender, age, race/ethnicity, public health certificate attainment, role type, current employer, and tenure in public health practice constant.

Setting: A nationally representative sample of U.S. government public health employees.

Participants: 36,752 U.S. governmental public health employees across local and state health agencies representing 47 states.

Main outcome measures: Self-reported competency skills gaps.

Results: In 2021, among both nonsupervisors and supervisors, having a formal public health degree (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) was significantly associated with reduced odds of reporting a skill gap across more than half of the competency skills assessed (14 of 23 skills and 17 of 24 skills, respectively). Nonsupervisors and supervisors with a formal public health degree had fewer skill gaps in 2021 than in 2017. Furthermore, whereas in 2017, when having a public health degree had no effect on executives reporting a skill gap, in 2021, having a public health degree was significantly associated with reduced odds of reporting 2 skill gaps.

Conclusions: Overall, across all position levels (ie, nonsupervisory, supervisor, executive), public health workers with a public health degree experienced fewer competency skill gaps in 2021 than in 2017. These findings from PHWINS 2021 illustrate that formal public health education generally decreases competency gaps across numerous competency domains. However, the variability in reported gaps across supervisory levels shows the need for ongoing evaluation and adaptation of formal public health degree programs.