NIOSH Strategic Plan: FYs 2019−2026
The NIOSH Strategic Plan has been extended through FY 2026. The Plan originally covered FY 2019-2023 but was first extended for one year, allowing staff to spend more time on the urgent tasks of the COVID-19 response. NIOSH chose to extend its Strategic Plan for an additional two years, through FY 2026, as many research projects planned for FYs 2020 and 2021 were delayed to FY 2022 or beyond. Extending through FY 2026 also creates better alignment with the fourth decade of the National Occupational Research Agenda (2026-2036). An updated version, NIOSH Strategic Plan FYs 2019-2026 (Version 8 August 2023) [PDF – 2 MB] is now available. One new goals was added to address struck-by injuries in the Construction sector. Three goals in the Public Safety Sector were revised to better address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Wildland firefighting. Finally, all instances of the word “stakeholder” has been replaced with “interested party” or “partner” to better align with CDC’s Health Equity Style Guide.
The NIOSH Strategic Plan reports the Institute’s research and service goals for fiscal years 2019- 2026. These goals address a broad range of occupational health and safety hazards, affecting an ever-changing workforce. Jobs in the U.S. economy continue to shift from manufacturing to services. Longer hours, compressed workweeks, an aging workforce, reduced job security, and part-time and temporary work have also changed the workforce. These changes represent a major challenge for NIOSH as it manages limited resources to address its research priorities.
NIOSH established seven strategic goals that best represent the health and safety issues facing the U.S. workforce:
- Reduce occupational cancer, cardiovascular disease, adverse reproductive outcomes, and other chronic diseases.
- Reduce occupational hearing loss.
- Reduce occupational immune, infectious, and dermal disease.
- Reduce occupational musculoskeletal disorders.
- Reduce occupational respiratory disease.
- Improve workplace safety to reduce traumatic injuries.
- Promote safe and healthy work design and well-being.
These seven strategic goals are supported by intermediate and activity goals that guide occupational health and safety research priorities and service work. Funding priority will be given to extramural research applications that clearly identify the strategic and intermediate goals their proposed work will address or support. NIOSH has identified priority goals for extramural research for the six-year period of fiscal year 2019 (FY19) to fiscal year 2026 (FY26). View the priority goals for extramural research. NIOSH will also lead new intramural projects to address the goals stated within this plan.
NIOSH recognizes that new issues may emerge or become more important during the five-year plan. Goals may be retired because they have been achieved. Priorities may shift in response to changing conditions. NIOSH will add or remove issues based on current or anticipated burden, need, and impact and allocate resources to address these changes.
Learn more about the NIOSH Strategic Plan: