If you are considering long-term care CNA jobs in Whatcom County, current workforce data points to sustained demand for nursing assistants. A September 2026 report from the Washington State Department of Health identifies a critical shortage of nursing assistants in long-term care and connects that shortage to workforce turnover, recruitment challenges and Washington’s aging population.
For people residing in North Whatcom County, the data provides useful context when considering a career as a certified nursing assistant.
Why does long-term care have a CNA shortage?
Washington’s long-term care workforce faces a gap between the number of caregivers available and the number needed to provide care. The 2026 state report identifies turnover as a factor. The report also cites recruitment challenges as a contributor to the shortage.
Population trends add to the need for workers. The state’s Office of Financial Management projects that Washington’s population age 65 and older will grow by 30% between 2024 and 2030 and by 64% by 2050. The population age 85 and older is projected to grow by 58% by 2030 and 246% by 2050.
The report also cites national projections of a shortage of more than 73,000 nursing assistants by 2028. It projects a 14% increase in nursing assistant positions in long-term care during that period.
What does the CNA job market look like?
Washington Career Bridge currently classifies nursing assistants as an in-demand occupation. The state lists 28,272 workers in the occupation and 5,549 openings per year. Career Bridge reports a typical hourly rate of $28 and a typical annual salary of $49,500, with half of workers earning between $23 and $31 per hour. These figures cover nursing assistants statewide and across health care settings, so individual long-term care employers may offer different compensation.
For someone entering the field, these figures provide a snapshot of the current market rather than a guarantee of a specific wage or job.
What challenges do future CNAs face?
Washington requires nursing assistant candidates to complete at least 108 hours of training and pass both a skills exam and a written exam before applying for certification.
The certification process has also presented practical barriers. The state report notes that repeat testing can create additional costs for students. In 2025, students paid $153,500 in repeat testing fees. The report also identifies travel, time away from work and childcare as potential costs associated with retesting.
That said, Washington has made changes to the testing process. State testing pilots reduced the average time from program graduation to credentialing from 96 days to less than 26 days during the measurement period cited in the report. Rules adopted in 2026 also changed the way skills testing can occur within approved training programs. That is more good news for nursing assistant students.
How LHE helps students enter the long-term care industry
Lynden Healthcare Education offers a six-week nursing assistant training program at no cost to select students. The program focuses on preparing students for nursing assistant certification and employment in Whatcom County’s long-term care facilities.
Students receive classroom instruction, hands-on skills training and clinical experience. This allows students to practice resident care skills before entering the workforce. LHE’s program also connects training with local employment opportunities, including positions at Christian Health Care Center in Lynden.
What does this mean for future CNAs?
The available data shows a workforce that needs more nursing assistants. Washington faces current staffing shortages while its older population continues to grow. State workforce data also shows thousands of nursing assistant openings each year.
That does not guarantee employment or a particular salary. It does show why long-term care CNA jobs remain a career option worth researching for people in Lynden, Everson, Sumas and throughout North Whatcom County.
For eligible students who want to enter the long-term care industry, LHE provides a local training pathway that combines CNA education, skills practice and clinical experience. Long-term care CNA jobs can provide an entry point into health care while meeting a documented workforce need in Washington.
