Demand for allied health professionals is expected to increase 20% by 2037, according to the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA).
“As far as job security, I don’t know a nurse or an allied health professional or a provider that is going to be struggling to have job security whether they’re in the travel market or not,” said Alysia Adams, co-founder of Luminous Travel Staffing.
Released in November, NCHWA’s projections align with Adams’ observations of industry trends.
She said she expects travel allied health jobs and the industry to increase in need, largely because there’s “not a great place” to go that compiles information on how many allied health professionals are actively working or are licensed staff.
“I think we’re going to see that rise a little bit,” Adams said, “and I think those rates are going to continue to climb, especially because they’re reimbursement-based roles by and large. So they really have a clear effect on revenue and generating revenue for health systems.”
State of Travel Allied Health Jobs
Travel allied health jobs span the medical field, ranging from audiologists and community health workers to optometrists and physical therapists.
Staffing Industry Analysts announced in November that respondents to its 2024 Allied Health Staffing Benchmarking Survey “reported a 12.8% decrease in aggregate revenue” when comparing the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2024. However, some allied health occupations saw year-over-year revenue increases. Behavioral health saw a 23.3% revenue increase, putting it at the top of that list for the second year in a row.
The survey also found that speech therapists and cath-lab technicians were the most difficult to recruit for, while phlebotomists were the easiest to recruit for.
Shortages are expected in the following professions, according to NCHWA:
- 36,820 dispensing opticians
- 6,480 respiratory therapists
- 9,140 physical therapists
- 17,030 pharmacists
- 4,430 podiatrists
- 8,190 chiropractors
How Luminous Travel Staffing Fits In
More than 25,000 staffing agencies support healthcare in the United States, but Adams said only about 1% are clinician-led agencies like Luminous Travel Staffing. And that was part of the appeal of growing the boutique staffing agency from the ground up.
“I do think we need more clinicians that are opening businesses that support clinicians and that decrease that transactional relationship that often occurs when it comes to staffing and labor,” Adams said.
As far as where Luminous fits into the current allied health and travel staffing landscape, Adams said the focus is on building and fostering relationships because, at the end of the day, it’s about people.
“Regardless of whether I sit in the hospital or in my office at the staffing company, I am taking care of people and I am helping to fill that role and that need in an organization,” she said.
The Bottom Line
Healthcare and staffing industry projections show a demand for travel allied health jobs in the years ahead. While the extent of demand varies by occupation, Luminous Travel Staffing has found no shortage of open positions for the healthcare professionals it works with. Those who choose Luminous as their staffing agency can expect to build a relationship with their recruiter that will continue as they progress through their allied health career.
