EXAMINING RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY AMONG THE US ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

Abstract

Background: Environmental health professionals (EHPs) work in various aspects of EH and are largely employed by state and local health departments. The long history of predominantly White males in the EH profession does not adequately represent the racial and ethnic diversity in the communities they serve. A more diverse and representative EH workforce creates opportunities to enhance cultural sensitivity and gain trust of underrepresented communities. Specific Aims: The aims of the research dissertation are multifold: 1) develop a profile of the EH workforce in the US, 2) analyze associations between minority EHPs and non-minority EHPs responses to job satisfaction, addressing public health issues, supervisory status, and organizational DEI efforts from the Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), and 3) provide recommendations to increase racial and ethnic diversity in EH. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed to triangulate findings using the largest national public health available database (PH WINS, 2021) and in-depth qualitative interviews with minority EHPs (n=19). In the quantitative analysis, data from the PH WINS was analyzed using SPSS (version 29), and qualitative thematic analyses were conducted using NVIVO version 14. Results: The racial and ethnic composition of the EH Workforce was 64.4% white, 20.7% BIPOC, and 11.3% Hispanic. In quantitative analysis, the most significant relationships identified included race/ethnicity with pay, supervisory status, addressing the social determinants of health, and organizational DEI efforts. In qualitative analysis, key themes to increase minority representation in EH included mentorship, internship opportunities, and marketing/advertisement. Discussion: Progress has been made toward increasing diversity in the workforce through internship programs and research involving undergraduate and graduate students. By including the working EHPs' perspective on diversity, we can validate programs that are already working to increase minority representation in EH as well as implement innovative ideas for future programs.