Objective To assess the current status of job competency among public health emergency personnel in Xinjiang disease control and prevention institutions and to explore the factors influencing their competency, thereby providing a scientific basis for the development of a competency framework for emergency response personnel.

Methods In October 2024, a questionnaire survey was conducted using a stratified random sampling method to assess the job competency of emergency personnel from 110 prefecture-, city-, and county-level disease control and prevention institutions in Xinjiang. A multiple linear regression model was applied to explore the factors influencing job competency.

Results A total of 780 questionnaires were distributed, and 767 were effectively collected with a valid response rate of 98.3%. The mean competency score was(193.56 ± 41.59) points. Multivariate analysis showed that the total competency score of male emergency personnel was 7.076 points higher than that of females(95% CI: 1.244 to 12.909); emergency personnel aged≥ 30 years had total competency scores 5.997 points higher than those aged < 30 years(95%CI: 2.354 to 9.640); those who had not participated in emergency work-related training in the past three years had total competency scores 12.106 points lower than those who had participated(95% CI: -20.966 to-3.247); and those who had not participated in field epidemiology or epidemiological investigation training in the past three years had total competency scores 7.487 points lower than those who had participated(95%CI: -14.107 to-0.868). All the above differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05).

Conclusions The job competence level of public health emergency personnel in the disease prevention and control institutions in Xinjiang was moderate. High-quality and targeted health emergency drills and training should be strengthened, based on age and gender composition, in order to improve the job competence of emergency personnel.