Nursing workforce trends over 40 years
| Number of Nurses | Female | % of Total | Male | % of Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1,417,665 | 1,390,004 | 98.05% | 27,254 | 1.92% |
| 1988 | 2,049,213 | 1,972,672 | 96.26% | 68,249 | 3.33% |
| 1996 | 2,558,874 | 2,439,245 | 95.32% | 125,120 | 4.89% |
| 2008 | 3,063,163 | 2,848,000 | 92.98% | 214,421 | 7.00% |
| 2018 | 3,272,872 | 2,912,000 | 88.97% | 314,195 | 9.60% |
The shift reflects two things working together: more men choosing nursing, and the slow erosion of old stereotypes about men in the role. Those stereotypes haven't vanished, but the long-run direction is set: professional opportunity and strong job security keep drawing men in.
The climb is no longer a straight line, though. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing's National Nursing Workforce Survey found the share of male RNs rose from 8.0% in 2015 to 11.2% in 2022, then slipped to 10.4% in 2024, the first decline after two decades of gains. NCSBN notes that men have historically left nursing at higher rates than women and report burnout disproportionately, but it cautions against reading a single two-year data point as a confirmed reversal. The four-decade story is still one of dramatic growth; the near-term picture is one to watch rather than extrapolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of nurses are men today? About 10%. The NCSBN 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey put male registered nurses at 10.4%, down slightly from 11.2% in 2022. That is up from under 2% in the late 1970s, roughly a tenfold increase in their numbers.
Is the share of male nurses still rising? Not in the most recent data. After climbing steadily from 8.0% in 2015 to 11.2% in 2022, the male share dipped to 10.4% in 2024, the first decline in two decades. NCSBN warns against treating one biennial reading as a long-term trend.
Why have so many more men entered nursing over time? Stronger job security, good pay, clear advancement, and the gradual fading of old stereotypes about nursing as women's work. Demand for nurses has also stayed high across the period.
Why might the male share have dropped in 2024? NCSBN data suggest men leave nursing at higher rates than women and are overrepresented among nurses reporting burnout, which can pull the share down. Researchers stress this is a single data point, not a confirmed reversal.
Where does the historical data come from? The long-run figures draw on the Health Resources and Services Administration's National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses and the U.S. Census Bureau; the most recent workforce shares come from NCSBN's biennial National Nursing Workforce Survey.