Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics identify nurse practitioners (NPs) as the fastest-growing occupation in the U.S., with a staggering 46% growth in employment expected by 2031. Similarly, employment for physician assistants (PAs) is set to rise by nearly 30%, ranking among the nation’s top 20 fastest-growing jobs.
This growth comes at a critical juncture: a nationwide physician shortage continues to deepen as more physicians retire. According to a Kaufman Hall analysis, advanced practice providers (APPs) such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified registered nurse anesthesiologists (CRNAs) accounted for over 60% of new healthcare workforce entrants in 2020, while physicians made up just 37%. Specifically:
- 36,000 nurse practitioners entered the workforce in 2020.
- Nearly 10,000 physician assistants joined during the same year.
- 2,600 certified registered nurse anesthesiologists also entered healthcare roles.
Healthcare systems are increasingly shifting their care models to leverage the expertise of APPs to fill gaps and meet demand.
For more insights, read the full article on Becker’s Hospital Review here.
