Jan 26, 2026

The US Locum Tenens Market in 2026: What Growth Means for Healthcare Organizations and Providers

The US Locum Tenens Market in 2026: What Growth Means for Healthcare Organizations and Providers

The locum tenens market is no longer a short-term staffing solution, it’s a foundational part of the US healthcare workforce. According to Staffing Industry Analysts’ (SIA) US Locum Tenens Market Growth Assessment: 2025, the US locum tenens market reached an estimated $9.6 billion in 2025, driven by persistent physician shortages, rising patient demand, and the need for greater workforce flexibility.

For healthcare organizations, this growth reflects a strategic shift in how care teams are built. For clinicians, it signals expanding opportunity, flexibility, and long-term career viability in locum tenens work.

What the Growth Means for Healthcare Organizations

Healthcare systems across the country continue to face staffing pressures as patient volumes increase and provider shortages deepen. SIA reports that physician shortages are projected to worsen through 2037, with particularly steep deficits in family medicine, vascular surgery, and thoracic surgery. Combined with limited residency capacity and high retirement rates, permanent hiring alone is no longer enough to sustain care delivery.

As reimbursement tightens and payer mixes shift, many organizations are turning to locum tenens to maintain coverage without increasing permanent headcount. Flexible staffing is especially critical in emergency departments, inpatient units, behavioral health, and other high-acuity environments, where consistent coverage directly impacts patient outcomes.

Locum tenens providers allow healthcare organizations to:

1. Maintain continuity of care during vacancies and leaves
2. Respond quickly to seasonal or unexpected surges
3. Avoid long-term financial risk tied to permanent staffing
4. Access specialized expertise where local talent is limited

Advanced Practice Providers Are Expanding Care Access

SIA’s analysis also highlights the growing role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in the locum tenens workforce. Nurse practitioners, in particular, are among the fastest-growing healthcare occupations, with job growth projected at 40.9% through 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

For healthcare organizations, APPs help fill critical gaps in primary care, hospital medicine, behavioral health, and outpatient services. For providers, this growth reflects increasing demand for flexible roles that allow them to practice at the top of their license while maintaining work-life balance.

Locum Tenens as a Career Path for Providers

For clinicians, locum tenens has evolved from occasional coverage into a core career option. An estimated 56,000 physicians now work as locum tenens, driven by lifestyle preferences, autonomy, and the desire for greater control over schedules and workloads.

Burnout continues to accelerate this shift. According to the 2025 Physician’s Foundation Wellbeing Survey cited by SIA, 55% of physicians report debilitating stress, and 54% report burnout, levels comparable to the height of the pandemic. Locum tenens offers an alternative that allows providers to reduce burnout while continuing to deliver high-quality care.

For providers, locum tenens can offer:

1. Schedule flexibility and geographic choice
2. Competitive compensation
3. Reduced administrative burden
4. Opportunities to explore different care settings and specialties

Looking Ahead: Steady Growth Through 2026

SIA projects the locum tenens market will continue steady growth, rising from $9.1 billion in 2024 to $9.9 billion by 2026, driven by sustained demand for physician services and increasing reliance on APPs. Telehealth policy changes taking effect in 2026 are also expected to shift more care back into in-person settings, further increasing the need for onsite locum coverage.

How Aequor Supports Both Organizations and Providers

At Aequor, we sit at the intersection of healthcare organizations and locum tenens professionals. We help facilities maintain consistent, high-quality coverage while supporting providers with opportunities that align with their professional and personal goals. For more information on a career in locum tenens, get connected with an Aequor recruiter today.

As the locum tenens market continues to grow, Aequor remains committed to helping both healthcare organizations and clinicians navigate the future of flexible staffing with confidence.

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