A new study forecasts a potential labor shortage of physical and occupational therapists over the next decade. The September 2014 study by "The Conference Board" estimates that the U.S. will experience labor shortages in three categories: skilled labor, healthcare professionals, and technology.
The report is titled, "From Not Enough Jobs to Not Enough Workers." The Conference Board, founded in 1916, is an independent research organization with a mission to “provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society.”
Not Enough Replacement Workers
As the boomer generation retires from the workforce, there are not enough replacement workers to fill their positions. The further we move out, the larger the problem becomes. In regards to healthcare, the Conference Board forecasts shortages of physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse practitioners, physical therapist assistants, and occupational therapist assistants, among others.
The problem is two-fold. As boomers age, they’re going to increasingly need the services of physical therapists and there aren't enough replacement therapists to fill the void. At the same time, U.S. medical schools are turning away qualified applicants because there is not enough infrastructure and faculty to educate them all.
The American Physical Therapists Association forecasts “unmet demand” to range from 13,638 to 27,820 full-time physical therapists until 2020.
Permanent and Temporary Therapist Recruiting
The good news is that American Traveler Allied can help organizations meet their optimal staffing requirements with permanent, temporary, travel, and part-time therapists. American Traveler Allied specializes in career opportunities for Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Respiratory Therapists, PTAs, Speech Language Pathologists and other allied health professionals.
Clients of American Traveler Allied post physical therapist jobs, occupational therapy jobs and speech therapy jobs online. Our therapist recruiting agency offers recruitment, candidate screening and credentialing, document expiration date notification, payroll, insurance, full benefits and more.
It’s important for healthcare executives to stay ahead of the curve and be able to manage the risk of the upcoming therapist workforce shortage. Contact American Traveler Allied and see that therapist recruitment doesn't have to be difficult.
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