The Physician Hiring Crisis. By the Numbers.
Independent practices face a structural physician shortage that traditional recruiting channels cannot solve. This hub collects data on overall workforce supply and demand — and links to specialty-specific pages for deeper context on the specialties where shortages are most acute.
All data sourced from AAMC, AAPPR, MGMA, and AMN Healthcare / Merritt Hawkins research reports. No proprietary claims are made. Figures are updated as new reports are published.
PhysicianWork Research Team
Physician Workforce Intelligence
Compiled from AAMC, AAPPR, MGMA, and AMN Healthcare reports. Updated as new data is published.
Shortage Data by Specialty
The overall physician shortage breaks down differently by specialty. These pages provide per-specialty context on vacancy rates, revenue exposure, and recruiting pressure — with sourced data and editable methodology notes.
Additional specialty pages are in development. Data for all 175+ specialties in the PhysicianWork database is available on the vacancy cost calculator.
See all specialtiesSix Data Points Every Practice Should Know
These are current, sourced from peer-reviewed research and industry surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025.
86,000
physician shortage projected by 2036
The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, driven by an aging population and a physician workforce approaching retirement age.
Source: AAMC 2024~50%
of all physician searches remained open at end of 2024
Despite record investment in recruitment, roughly half of all active physician searches failed to result in a hire. The gap between supply and demand is not closing.
Source: AAPPR 2025118 days
average physician search duration
The average physician search takes four months from open requisition to signed offer. During that window, the vacancy costs an independent practice $5,500–$9,500 per day in lost revenue depending on specialty.
Source: AAPPR 2025$58K–$87K
average recruiting firm fee per physician hire
Traditional physician recruiting firms charge 20–25% of first-year compensation. For a primary care physician earning $250,000, that's $50,000–$62,500 per placement — with no guarantee of retention.
Source: Industry Standard53%
of medical group leaders cite finding candidates as their #1 staffing challenge
In annual MGMA surveys, finding qualified physician candidates consistently ranks as the top operational challenge for independent medical groups — ahead of billing, compliance, and technology.
Source: MGMA 202483% to 71%
offer acceptance rate decline in a single year
Physician offer acceptance rates dropped 12 percentage points in a single year, meaning practices are working harder and spending more — to hire fewer physicians.
Source: AAPPR 2025Next Steps
Use this data to take action on your open positions.
What This Means for Your Practice
The shortage is real. Traditional channels — recruiting firms and job boards — are losing effectiveness. Independent practices that win the physician talent competition in 2025 and beyond will be the ones with direct, immediate access to the candidate pool. That is what PhysicianWork provides.
The Physician Hiring Crisis in Five Numbers
physician shortage projected by 2036. The supply shrinks every year.
AAMCof all physician searches remained open at the end of 2024.
AAPPRof medical group leaders cite finding candidates as their #1 staffing challenge. The most common problem in healthcare administration.
MGMAof healthcare organizations used an outside search firm in 2024. 47% of those searches still didn't result in a hire.
AAPPROffer acceptance rate drop in a single year. Physicians are more selective than ever, and the practices with the fastest access to candidates win.
AAPPR 2025physician shortage projected by 2036. The supply shrinks every year.
AAMCof all physician searches remained open at the end of 2024.
AAPPRof medical group leaders cite finding candidates as their #1 staffing challenge. The most common problem in healthcare administration.
MGMAof healthcare organizations used an outside search firm in 2024. 47% of those searches still didn't result in a hire.
AAPPROffer acceptance rate drop in a single year. Physicians are more selective than ever, and the practices with the fastest access to candidates win.
AAPPR 2025PhysicianWork was built for independent practices. The recruiters, hospital systems, and legacy job boards already have their tools. This one is yours. See the full physician shortage data.