The wider public health workforce (WPHW) faces numerous challenges over the coming years.

Over recent months, we have engaged with the WPHW to discuss how climate change, technology and AI, and ageing demographics will impact their ability to support the populations health.

These issues threaten the capacity of the workforce to deliver their services, particularly as they already face limited resources. At a time when our nation faces a healthcare crisis, it has never been more important that we protect and promote the role of the WPHW in delivering better outcomes across the board.

The need for a workforce strategy

Across our work, we have found that the workforce feels there is a disjointed approach to engaging with them – which holds back their ability to deliver. The Government must develop a comprehensive workforce strategy, alongside input from the WPHW, which explains how they will commit to working with them to tackle the impact of these future challenges.

Multiple issues will simultaneously impact the ability of the WPHW to deliver effective public health services in the future. This strategy must work across sectors to ensure a holistic approach to health protection.

Increased training, resources and upskilling are needed to ensure that the workforce continues to have the necessary expertise and capacity. This is particularly important as we see some parts of the sector struggling to recruit – for their services to continue being delivered, we need a skills and recruitment strategy which enables a broader range of people to enter and develop careers in public health.

Industry engaging with the workforce

Businesses want to work with public health to encourage a healthier working population and stimulate economic growth. They play a substantial role in adapting workplaces and work patterns to ensure that workers – especially older workers and those with long-term and multiple health conditions – are supported to remain in work.

Poor health and caring responsibilities will likely force older workers out of the job market, and employers will need to make sure our workplaces encourage health. Organisations need support from the Government to invest in workplace health, such as offering occupational health, so individuals can continue working.

They are also interested in utilising new technology and AI which can increase their workforce's productivity. We need to ensure that the WPHW have the right training, skills and expertise to operate them, as well as ensuring the industries driving these changes engage with the WPHW from the start to build new ways of working which deliver better outcomes for all concerned. This will allow the WPHW to have the capacity to focus on more human-lead interventions.

The sector is tentatively cautious – they recognise the opportunities, but are sceptical they will be delivered

The WPHW are aware of the challenges which impact their sector and the support they need. They want to have access to the training, skills and expertise they need to utilise the opportunities that tools such as new technology and AI can bring. At the same time, they are worried that they will not be given the guidance to ensure that their workforce can prepare for the effects of future challenges.

The public health sector already faces recruitment issues which are impacted by limited resources and reduced capacity. They doubt that the government will increase the resources and support organisations urgently need to mitigate future threats. This will subsequently limit their ability to utilise opportunities to increase their productivity, capacity, expertise and health of their workforce.

This cannot be the future that the public health sector faces.

The coming years will be difficult for the WPHW, but if we are able to put in place the right support and adapt to a changing world, then there is the potential to deliver far better outcomes for the public. This must be the central aim of our work over the coming years, as the sector, Government and business work together to improve the health of the public.

Get involved and find out more about the workforce during Public Health Workforce Week.