The Physician Job Market Will Remain Strong

The combination of physician shortages and an aging population will continue to fuel employment growth for physicians in 2025 and beyond.

Physician Employment Projections:

Overall employment for physicians is anticipated to grow by an average of 4% until 2033, resulting in an estimated 23,600 job openings. The anticipated employment growth is driven by an aging population, rising rates of chronic illness and complex conditions, and an increasing demand for mental health services.

Fastest-Growing Physician Specialties:

Here are the top physician specialties expected to see the highest percent employment change by 2033:

  1. Psychiatry: 8%
  2. Neurology: 7%
  3. Family Medicine: 5%
  4. Cardiology: 5%
  5. Anesthesiology: 4%
  6. Radiology: 4%

2025 Healthcare Trends, Fastest-Growing Physician Specialties

Increased Demand for NPs and PAs

Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are expected to experience significant job growth over the next decade, with NPs projected to grow by 40% and PAs by 28% between 2023 and 2033. This growth reflects their expanding role in addressing physician shortages, particularly in primary care, and meeting the increased healthcare needs of a growing population.

Advanced Practitioner Employment Projections:

Advanced practitioners are playing a critical role in addressing coverage gaps amid ongoing physician shortages, often expanding their scope of practice to meet patient needs. The aging population and increasing healthcare demands are driving significant growth in advanced practitioner employment.

Fastest-Growing Advanced Practitioners:

The advanced practitioner roles expected to see the highest employment growth by 2033 include:

  1. Nurse Practitioners: 46%
  2. Physician Assistants: 28%
  3. Certified Nurse Anesthetists: 10%
  4. Nurse Midwives: 7%

2025 Healthcare Trends, Fastest-Growing Advanced Practitioners

Locum Tenens Jobs on the Rise

The locum tenens market continues to provide significant opportunities for physicians and advanced practitioners in 2025. Growing patient volumes, an aging population, and increasing rates of chronic conditions are driving the demand for locum providers. As physician shortages persist, healthcare facilities are relying on locum tenens to bridge coverage gaps and ensure patients have access to uninterrupted care.

Locum tenens careers offer physicians and advanced practitioners the flexibility to set personalized schedules, earn competitive compensation, and gain diverse clinical experiences. Many physicians and APPs are choosing locum tenens careers to achieve better work-life balance, explore new locations, and avoid the administrative demands of permanent positions. Locum tenens also play a key role in delivering patient care in understaffed facilities and underserved areas. Locum tenens work not only supports individual providers but also strengthens the overall healthcare system, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all patients.

Expanding AI Integration to Enhance Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the way physicians deliver care, providing innovative tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and patient outcomes. In 2025, hospitals and health systems are anticipated to continue implementing AI in healthcare.

Key Benefits of AI for Physicians:

  • Enhanced Diagnostic Support: AI-powered tools aid physicians in interpreting medical imaging, pathology slides, diagnostic tests, and more, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses. This improves patient outcomes and allows physicians to focus on more complex aspects of patient care.
  • Personalized Treatment Plans: AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify patterns and predict individual patient responses to specific treatments. Physicians can utilize this information to tailor treatment plans, optimize therapeutic outcomes, and minimize adverse effects.
  • Administrative Efficiency: AI streamlines administrative tasks, such as appointment scheduling, billing, and medical coding, allowing physicians and advanced practitioners to allocate more time to patient care. This not only enhances efficiency but also contributes to reducing burnout rates.
  • Proactive Patient Monitoring: AI-powered remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices track real-time health trends, enabling early interventions and reducing hospital readmissions.

AI is becoming an indispensable tool for physicians, helping them deliver more effective, efficient, and personalized care while reducing the strain of growing healthcare demands.

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