Evaluating the Impact of COVID19 on Nutrition Jobs in the New York Metropolitan Area: A Comparison of Position Listings and Reported Needs from Before and During the Pandemic

Abstract

The Covid19 pandemic has caused significant changes in staffing and training needs in the healthcare workforce. Among the practitioners impacted are dietitians and nutritionists. This study compared samples of position announcements in nutrition and dietetics from 2017 and 2021. Differences by both total number of position and position categories were found to be significantly different (p<.05) between the two time periods studied. There was a decrease of about 50% in the total number of positions posted in the first three months of 2021 as compared to the same months in 2017. Changes across position location were also significant. As a % of the total positions, specialty programs were the only category to show growth over the time period studied. These included overall increases in outpatient clinical programs focusing on HIV/AIDs, cancer, and hemodialysis, and more notably in 2021, eating disorders, obesity, and mental health programs. Differences in specific skills and credentials desired were consistent with needs in these practice areas. Awareness of changes in the employment landscape can help to better prepare students and interns to meet emerging patient care needs and workforce demands.