Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages

Section 7412 of title 38, United States Code (U.S.C.) requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General (IG) to determine and report on the top five occupations of VA personnel covered under 38 U.S.C. 7401, for which there are the largest staffing shortages. The top five occupations are calculated over the five-year period preceding the determination, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to publish these findings in the Federal Register. Based on its review, the IG identified the following six occupations as having the largest staffing shortages in the identified time period: Medical Officer, Nurse, Psychologist, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapist and Medical Technologist. Six occupations are identified because the Psychologist and Physician Assistant positions tied for the third position, and the Physical Therapist and Medical Technologist positions tied for the fifth position. Additional information and analysis can be found at: www.va.gov/OIG.