(Portland, OR) -- Oregon's healthcare workforce faces major challenges. In 2024, health care and social assistance added 15-thousand jobs, but there were still nearly 19-thousand vacancies. A new report shows Oregon needs more professionals working to meet demand, especially in rural areas. The racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the workforce doesn't match the state's diversity. Some solutions could include housing allowances, childcare subsidies, and a centralized statewide clinical placement system for nursing students.