The OB/GYN workforce, projected to decline to 47,490 by 2030, has already fallen to 46,554, exceeding shortage expectations years ahead of schedule. As workforce numbers continue to shift, access to maternity care is becoming less accessible, particularly in rural areas where labor and delivery units are closing at an accelerating rate.
With fewer OB/GYNs entering the field and nearly half of the current workforce nearing retirement, supply is struggling to keep up with demand. Examining the factors driving this gap will be key to identifying solutions that can stabilize coverage and ensure access to care.
Key Factors Contributing to the OB/GYN Shortage
Geographical Barriers to Maternity Care
Access to maternity care varies widely across the U.S., with most OB/GYNs practicing in metropolitan areas. This imbalance creates maternity care deserts—regions where hospitals, birth centers, and OB/GYN providers are scarce or nonexistent. As a result, more than a third of U.S. counties lack adequate obstetric care, leaving over 2.2 million women of childbearing age without essential services.
Over the past decade, more than 200 rural hospitals have been forced to discontinue maternity services, a trend that has continued into 2025. This has led to many women having to travel greater distances for prenatal care and childbirth. On average, driving time for those in rural areas is 26 minutes, and 38 minutes for those living in maternity care deserts.
OB/GYN Residency Limitations
Despite strong interest in OB/GYN residency programs, the number of available positions remains insufficient to meet demand. In the 2024 Match, there were over 400 more active applicants than available OB/GYN residency positions, leaving 29% unmatched.
Without an increase in OB/GYN residency positions, fewer OB/GYNs will enter the workforce, and demand will continue to outpace supply.
Aging OB/GYN Workforce
Only 14.9% of OB/GYNs are under the age of 40, signaling a major demographic shift that could impact workforce stability in the coming years. Preparing for impending retirements requires a multi-faceted approach, including strategic recruitment and enhanced retention efforts to ensure long-term staffing sustainability.
Actionable Solutions to Strengthen OB/GYN Coverage
Healthcare organizations are exploring and implementing various strategies to sustain OB/GYN services amid ongoing shortages and service line closures. One effective approach is creating an OB hospitalist model, which guarantees that a full-time or part-time physician is dedicated exclusively to inpatient obstetric care. By leveraging OB hospitalists, outpatient OB/GYNs can focus on clinical care and elective procedures, while hospitals benefit from continuous, specialized coverage for labor, delivery, and obstetric emergencies.
Additionally, utilizing locum tenens OB/GYNs to bridge gaps in coverage can be a vital way to ensure access to care, particularly in rural areas. OB/GYN locum tenens not only help maintain patient access to care but also alleviate the workload on permanent OB/GYNs, which can aid in physician retention.
For healthcare organizations facing multiple FTE gaps in coverage, the Medicus Transition Program can help. Medicus' project-based interim healthcare staffing solution specializes in long-term locum tenens coverage. By combining immediate locum tenens staffing support with strategic workforce planning, Medicus helps hospitals maintain reliable coverage and meet patient demand while building a more sustainable clinical workforce.
Explore More Insights into the OB/GYN Shortage
As the OB/GYN shortage continues to impact healthcare organizations, patients, and OB/GYNs alike, leveraging actionable staffing strategies will be crucial for maintaining and managing access to obstetrics and gynecological care. Our report, Insights into the Growing OB/GYN Shortage, provides a comprehensive look into the workforce, additional factors influencing the shortage, and an in-depth look into solutions for navigating it.
For a comprehensive look into the OB/GYN shortage, download the complete report below.
