Missouri Hospitals Face Rising Turnover Even as Vacancy Rates Decline, MHA Report Finds

NewsData.io · United States · Jul 28, 2026

Missouri hospital vacancy rates dropped from 17% in 2021 to 10.1% in 2025, but employee turnover ticked up from 22.2% to 23.7% in the same period, according to the Missouri Hospital Association's 2026 Workforce Report. Entry-level roles like nurse assistants, environmental services workers, and phlebotomists show the highest turnover — driven by wage competition and career-stepping-stone dynamics — while specialized clinical roles such as imaging specialists and registered nurses carry the highest vacancies. Hospitals are responding with pipeline programs, care team redesigns, and expanding use of AI-enabled scheduling, documentation, and telehealth tools. For staffing agencies serving healthcare clients, sustained turnover at both the entry and clinical levels signals continued placement opportunity across Missouri and likely other states with similar post-pandemic dynamics.