National Academy of Sciences says veterinary workforce study is coming

Washington

— The National Academy of Sciences says its long-awaited study on veterinary workforce trends is still slated for a fall 2011 release, but no official date has been set.

The report was commissioned more than four years ago and was slated for completion within 18 months. Since then, its release has been delayed seven times.

The study was commissioned to examine the kinds of jobs available to veterinarians and assess future demand for veterinarians in existing and new sectors. Current and future veterinary school capacity was also going to be analyzed, along with an assessment of the nation's veterinary schools. The final report promises to contain the study findings as well as options for meeting society's future veterinary workforce needs.

In related news, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced Oct. 26 that it is postponing its own study on the veterinary workforce, announced in July. AVMA’s Executive Board tabled the study until its November meeting pending a review by the AVMA’s Economic Vision Steering Committee, because of “the inherent difficulties of undertaking such a broad analysis.“