Healthcare Staffing Market

Market Overview:

The global healthcare staffing market size reached USD 44.1 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 71.9 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31% during 2025-2033. The increasing aging population, ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, the rapid outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, evolving nature of healthcare, specialized healthcare requirements and technological advancements are some of the major factors propelling the market.

Healthcare staffing refers to the process of recruiting, hiring, and deploying qualified healthcare professionals to healthcare facilities to ensure adequate staffing levels and quality patient care. It involves partnering with staffing agencies or utilizing internal resources to fill temporary or permanent positions in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings. Healthcare staffing encompasses a wide range of roles, including physicians, nurses, medical technicians, therapists, and administrative staff. The goal is to meet the staffing needs of healthcare organizations, especially during periods of high demand or staff shortages. Effective healthcare staffing is crucial for maintaining optimal patient care, managing workload, and ensuring the smooth functioning of healthcare services.

The aging population and increased healthcare demands have resulted in a greater need for healthcare services. This has created a demand for healthcare professionals, leading to a rise in healthcare staffing. Additionally, the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals, such as nurses and physicians, has contributed to the growth of the healthcare staffing market. Factors like retirement, career transitions, and geographic imbalances further results in shortage, prompting healthcare organizations to rely on staffing agencies to fill critical positions. Other than this, the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has also played a significant role in driving the healthcare staffing market. The unprecedented demand for healthcare workers during the crisis has highlighted the importance of having a flexible and agile staffing model to address sudden surges in patient numbers and to maintain continuity of care. Moreover, the evolving nature of healthcare, technological advancements, and specialized care requirements have created a demand for professionals with niche skills and expertise. Healthcare staffing agencies play a crucial role in sourcing these specialized professionals to meet specific needs.

Healthcare Staffing Market Trends/Drivers:

Aging population and increased healthcare demand

With the growing aging population, there is a greater need for healthcare services due to age-related conditions and chronic illnesses. This leads to escalated demand for healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and caregivers, to provide essential care and support. Consequently, healthcare organizations must expand their workforce to meet these demands, resulting in a higher demand for healthcare staffing services. The aging population also contributes to a higher turnover rate among healthcare professionals as they approach retirement, further necessitating the recruitment of new staff. These factors collectively drive the healthcare staffing market by creating a constant need for qualified healthcare professionals to meet the growing healthcare demands of the aging population.

The ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals

As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, there is a simultaneous shortage of qualified healthcare professionals, such as nurses, physicians, and allied health workers. This shortage is fueled by factors such as retirements, career transitions, and geographic imbalances in the distribution of healthcare professionals. To bridge this gap and ensure adequate staffing levels, healthcare organizations increasingly turn to healthcare staffing agencies. These agencies specialize in recruiting and placing qualified professionals to fill temporary or permanent positions, helping to address the shortage and maintain quality patient care.

The outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic

The unprecedented demand for healthcare workers during the crisis has created an urgent need for additional staffing resources. Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities faced surges in patient numbers, requiring more healthcare professionals to provide care and support. This increased demand for healthcare staffing services to fill critical positions and alleviate the strain on healthcare organizations. Additionally, the pandemic has resulted in healthcare workers facing burnout, illness, or the need to quarantine, further exacerbating staffing shortages. The dynamic and evolving nature of the pandemic has emphasized the importance of having a flexible staffing model to respond quickly to fluctuating demands, ensuring optimal patient care and operational continuity.

Healthcare Staffing Industry Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the global healthcare staffing market report, along with forecasts at the global, regional, and country levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on the service type.

Breakup by Service Type:

• Travel Nurse Staffing
• Per Diem Nurse Staffing
• Locum Tenens Staffing
• Allied Healthcare Staffing
   

Travel nurse staffing accounts for the majority of the market share

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the healthcare staffing market based on the service type. This includes travel nurse staffing, per diem nurse staffing, locum tenens staffing, and allied healthcare staffing. According to the report, travel nurse staffing represented the largest segment.

Travel nurse staffing is driving the healthcare staffing market by providing a solution for healthcare facilities facing staff shortages. Travel nurses are temporary healthcare professionals who are willing to relocate and work in different locations for short-term assignments. They offer flexibility and fill critical gaps in staffing, especially in regions with high demand or during peak seasons. Travel nurse staffing agencies connect healthcare facilities with qualified professionals, ensuring adequate staffing levels and uninterrupted patient care.

Per diem nurse staffing plays a vital role in the healthcare staffing market by providing on-demand and flexible staffing solutions. Per diem nurses are available to work on a day-by-day basis, allowing healthcare facilities to supplement their existing staff during peak periods, vacations, or unexpected absences. This staffing model provides agility in managing fluctuating patient volumes, minimizing overtime costs, and maintaining optimal staffing levels while delivering quality care.

Locum tenens physicians are licensed healthcare professionals who provide short-term coverage for physicians on leave or in areas with physician shortages. Locum tenens staffing agencies connect healthcare facilities with qualified physicians, ensuring continuous patient care and allowing facilities to meet the demand for services. This staffing model enables healthcare organizations to maintain their services, alleviate physician shortages, and bridge the gap until permanent physicians can be recruited.

Breakup by Region:

• North America
  • United States
  • Canada
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
  • Others
• Europe
  • Germany
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Others
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Others
• Middle East and Africa
   

North America exhibits a clear dominance in the market, accounting for the largest market share

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include North America (the United States and Canada); Europe (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, and others); Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, and others); Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and others); and the Middle East and Africa.  According to the report, North America was the largest market for healthcare staffing.

North America drives the healthcare staffing market through its high demand for healthcare professionals, driven by factors such as an aging population, increased healthcare needs, and advancements in medical technology. The region's robust healthcare infrastructure, large healthcare organizations, and high healthcare expenditure contribute to the growth of the staffing market.

In Europe, the healthcare staffing market is driven by aging population, growing healthcare demands, and cross-border mobility of healthcare professionals. The region's emphasis on quality healthcare, universal healthcare systems, and government initiatives to address healthcare workforce shortages further fuel the demand for staffing solutions.

The Asia Pacific region drives the healthcare staffing market due to its population size, rapid urbanization, and economic growth. The region faces challenges such as a shortage of healthcare professionals, increasing healthcare demands, and a need to enhance healthcare infrastructure. This drives the demand for healthcare staffing services to meet the growing needs and provide quality healthcare services in the region.

Competitive Landscape:

The key players in the healthcare staffing market are actively investing in expanding their networks of healthcare professionals, leveraging technology for efficient recruitment and placement processes, and adopting innovative solutions to address staffing challenges. These players are establishing strategic partnerships with healthcare facilities, offering specialized staffing services, and providing comprehensive workforce management solutions. They are also focusing on improving employee engagement, offering competitive compensation packages, and providing professional development opportunities. Moreover, key players are actively monitoring market trends, regulatory changes, and healthcare workforce dynamics to adapt their strategies and stay ahead in the competitive healthcare staffing market.

The report has provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the global healthcare staffing market. Detailed profiles of all major companies have also been provided. Some of the key players in the market include:

• Adecco Group
• Amn Healthcare Services Inc.
• CHG Management Inc.
• Cross Country Healthcare Inc.
• Envisions Healthcare Corporation (KKR & Co. Inc.)
• LHC Group Inc.
• LocumTenens.com (Jackson Healthcare LLC)
• Maxim Healthcare Group
• Syneos Health Inc.
• TeamHealth

Recent Developments:

• AMN Healthcare has developed and expanded its virtual healthcare solutions, including telehealth and remote monitoring services, to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.
• Cross Country Healthcare has introduced a new cloud-based technology platform that allows healthcare professionals to manage their assignments, submit timecards, and access relevant resources conveniently.
• LHC Group has invested in remote patient monitoring technologies, allowing healthcare providers to monitor patients' health remotely and provide timely interventions.

Healthcare Staffing Market Report Scope:

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the healthcare staffing market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the global healthcare staffing market.
• The study maps the leading, as well as the fastest-growing, regional markets. It further enables stakeholders to identify the key country-level markets within each region.    
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the healthcare staffing industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.