Future of Healthcare Jobs 2025
A Look Ahead: What’s Changing in Healthcare Employment?
After weathering a global pandemic, economic shifts, and evolving patient care models, the future of healthcare jobs in 2025 is beginning to take shape. While many challenges, such as staffing shortages and burnout, have lingered from pre-pandemic times, fresh insights and emerging trends are guiding healthcare employers and professionals toward a new and potentially more promising direction.
To better understand how the healthcare workforce feels about their current roles and future employment, CareJobs conducted a comprehensive survey of 1,800+ healthcare professionals across the United States. The data collected paints a revealing picture of the attitudes, challenges, and motivations driving the healthcare workforce today.
Purpose of the CareJobs Future of Healthcare Jobs Survey
Each year, CareJobs surveys professionals working in healthcare to capture their perspectives on employment, career goals, and what they expect from the industry moving forward. The 2025 report is designed to help employers, policy makers, and staffing agencies make informed decisions to improve clinician satisfaction, retention, and recruitment.
This year’s findings are especially relevant for HR leaders and healthcare administrators looking to adapt to shifting workforce expectations in a highly competitive job market.
Who Participated in the Survey?
Survey participants were drawn primarily from the CareJobs platform and included respondents from various disciplines, age groups, employment types, and geographic regions. Respondents were reached through email invitations and active communities on social media platforms, including professional healthcare groups on Facebook and Instagram.
Age Breakdown
- Under 25: 3%
- 25 to 34: 18%
- 35 to 44: 22%
- 45 to 54: 29%
- 55 and older: 28%
Professional Roles
- Registered Nurses (RN): 63%
- Allied Health Professionals: 18%
- Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN): 6%
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA): 4.5%
- Therapists: 3%
- Nurse Practitioners: 1.2%
- Other (Advanced Practice, Faculty, CMA, etc.): 4.3%
Years of Experience
Respondents represented a wide range of experience levels:
- Less than 2 years: 5%
- 3 to 10 years: 37%
- 11 to 24 years: 41%
- 25+ years: 17%
Where Are They Working Now?
Employment Types
- Full-time Permanent Staff: 33%
- Part-time Staff: 7.1%
- Travel or Short-Term Contract: 39%
- Per Diem: 13%
- Not actively employed: 6.2%
- Retired or taking a break: 1.7%
Practice Settings
- Mid-sized Acute Care Hospitals (100–500 beds): 31%
- Large Acute Care Hospitals (500+ beds): 25%
- Small Hospitals (<100 beds): 9.3%
- Long-term Care Facilities: 8.1%
- Outpatient Clinics & Ambulatory Care: 7.5%
- Community/Public Health: 3.8%
- Virtual Care Roles: 1.9%
- Correctional Facilities: 1.3%
- Other/Niche Specialties: 11%
A Shift in Mindset: Staying vs. Leaving Healthcare
Encouragingly, 2025 shows signs of stabilization. In our latest Future of Healthcare Jobs survey, 57.3% of respondents said they have no plans to leave the profession within the next three years, compared to 63% who were considering leaving in 2022.
However, that still leaves 42.7% considering an exit from the healthcare field within the next 6 months to 3 years. Here’s how their timelines break down:
Timeline to Exit Healthcare | % of Respondents |
Within 6 months | 7.2% |
6–12 months | 7.1% |
1–2 years | 12.5% |
2–3 years | 15.9% |
While intent to leave doesn’t always lead to action, this data reflects real concerns about burnout, work-life balance, and compensation that must be addressed.
Workforce Flexibility: The New Standard
One of the most significant shifts reflected in the Future of Healthcare Jobs 2025 report is the desire for flexible employment arrangements. Nearly 52% of respondents preferred non-traditional roles such as:
- Travel Nursing
- Short-Term Contracts
- Per Diem Shifts
Only about 40% preferred full-time or part-time permanent roles, indicating a continued shift toward autonomy and work-life flexibility post-pandemic.
The Hiring Landscape: A Permanent Staffing Challenge
As staffing shortages continue to affect hospitals and clinics, competition for full-time clinicians is intensifying. Employers must work harder and smarter to attract talent back to staff roles.
For instance, the average hourly rate permanent staff respondents said would entice them back from travel roles was $59 per hour, up from $56 in 2024. This signals that while flexibility is desirable, permanent work remains viable—if employers offer attractive wages and perks.
Top Priorities for Job Seekers in 2025
When asked what they value most in a job, respondents consistently highlighted the following:
Top 5 Job Priorities | % of Respondents |
Hourly Wage | 88.6% |
Benefits (Health, Dental, etc.) | 59.1% |
Staff-to-Patient Ratios | 53.4% |
Commute Time | 49.8% |
Flexible Shifts | 47.9% |
Clearly, compensation still tops the list—but working conditions and personal flexibility are gaining ground.
Secondary But Still Important Factors
Beyond pay and benefits, other influential job features included:
- Facility Reputation (25%)
- Career Advancement (22%)
- Mentorship & Professional Growth (19%)
- Geographic Location (17%)
- Mental Health & Wellness Support (13%)
- Clinician Input in Decisions (10%)
- Tuition Reimbursement and Continuing Education (8%)
- Shared Governance Participation (3.4%)
Most Desired Benefits in Healthcare Jobs 2025
Job seekers aren’t just looking at salary, they care deeply about the benefits packages offered:
Top 10 Desired Benefits | % of Respondents |
Medical & Dental Insurance | 76.1% |
Retirement Plans / Pensions | 66.4% |
401K Vesting Timelines | 37.2% |
Disability Coverage | 20.3% |
Tuition Reimbursement | 14.2% |
Continuing Education Support | 13.6% |
Life Insurance | 12.3% |
Gym or Wellness Benefits | 9.1% |
Dependent/Childcare Assistance | 5.2% |
Financial Counseling Services | 3.8% |
These perks, while sometimes overlooked, play a decisive role in accepting or rejecting job offers.
Insights for Employers: Winning the 2025 Staffing Battle
To succeed in the future of healthcare jobs, employers must take a human-centered approach to staffing by:
- Offering flexible roles with competitive compensation
- Addressing burnout with mental health and wellness support
- Streamlining onboarding and credentialing for temporary roles
- Building a culture of inclusion, advancement, and clinician voice
- Investing in learning and development opportunities
At CareJobs, we help healthcare employers not only connect with top talent, but also understand what healthcare professionals truly want in today’s evolving workplace.
Final Thoughts: Planning for the Future of Healthcare Jobs in 2025
The future of healthcare jobs in 2025 is shaped by flexibility, autonomy, and values beyond compensation. Healthcare professionals are prioritizing wellness, growth, and balance like never before, and employers must rise to meet these expectations.
If you’re a healthcare employer, now is the time to align your hiring strategy with the real needs of today’s workforce. If you’re a clinician, platforms like CareJobs empower you to find roles that fit your lifestyle and long-term career goals.
Let’s build the future of healthcare together, one job, one life-changing role at a time.
