America has a shortage of healthcare providers that is projected to increase over the coming years as more Baby Boomers seek care and Physicians retire. Although Physicians as a whole are highly sought after by recruiters, some specialties will be in higher demand over the coming years. If you are considering a specialty to pursue or are a Physician thinking about a career change, you may want to consider these specialties with great job outlooks.
Top Physician Job Outlooks by Specialty *:
Family Practitioners
Family and General Practitioners top the list as having the best job prospects in coming years. This is not surprising considering the projected increases in healthcare demands that will be created as more Americans seek healthcare and access to insurance coverage increases. An additional 14,000 Family Practitioner opportunities are expected to be created by 2024 to cover these increasing healthcare needs.
Surgeons
Up to 1/3 of currently practicing Physicians will reach retirement age in the next 10 years(1). This projected shift in the Physician workforce will create a marked shortage amongst Surgical Physicians. This shortage is expected to create an additional 9,000+ jobs for Physicians in Surgical subspecialties by 2024. This rise in demand represents a 20% increase in opportunities for practicing Surgeons.
Anesthesiologists
The future looks bright for Anesthesiologists. Despite being one of the higher paying specialties in Medicine, Anesthesiologists shortages are ever increasing. Over 7,000 new jobs are expected to be created to meet demands. This equals out to a 21% increase in job opportunities over the coming years.
Internists (Internal Medicine Specialists)
Internists will see an increase in demand over the coming years as they help fulfill essential healthcare needs for an increasingly aged population. An additional 5,100 positions are expected to be created with increasing demand being located in rural practice settings.
Obstetricians/Gynecologists
Over the coming years the number of practicing Obstetrician/Gynecologists is expected to decrease as the number of births in America increases. This inequality creates a projected shortage that will require an additional 4,000 OB/GYN's nationwide by 2024. This is an 18% increase above baseline levels creating many new opportunities for those interested in OB/GYN care.