The COVID-19 pandemic has strained many essential frontline professionals, including
public health workers*; however, few studies have evaluated the specific challenges facing
public health workers during this period. Data from the 2021 Public Health Workforce
Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), a nationally representative survey of individual state
and local governmental public health agency workers, provide insight into public health
workers' demographic characteristics and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic …

The 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey recorded the perspectives of
the governmental public health workforce. During March 2020–January 2022, 72% of the
workforce fully or partially served in a COVID-19 response role. Apart from funding, 51% of
respondents cited a need for additional staff capacity to respond to COVID-19.
Approximately 40% of the workforce intends to leave their jobs within the next 5 years.