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Staffing shortages are hitting care quality across hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices and urgent care centers nationwide. The Covista Care Capacity Monitor 2026 shows the gap is set to grow, not shrink.
At a glance
We surveyed healthcare executives and clinicians, in partnership with Gallup, to understand how the staffing shortage affects patient care. The Covista Care Capacity Monitor details those results to reveal the scale and urgency of the problem. Based on the data, we believe this is a patient care crisis, not just a staffing issue.
Patient care quality is negatively affected
76% of clinicians and 73% of healthcare executives say staffing shortages negatively affect their ability to provide high-quality care.
AI can support—but not replace—skilled clinicians
76% of healthcare executives say AI has a positive impact on care quality. But when it comes to staffing, 65% say AI can help at least somewhat while 31% don't believe it will help solve the shortage much, if at all.
Healthcare staffing shortages hit rural and less urban communities hardest
85% of healthcare executives from rural and less urban communities say they can't find enough local talent—nearly twice the 45% reported in metro areas. Some states face extreme shortages, including nearly 20 monthly vacancies per job seeker in New Hampshire and more than 18 in North Dakota.
Talent partnerships top the list of effective staffing strategies
Nearly 70% of healthcare executives rate talent partnerships as somewhat to very effective for meeting workforce needs. Yet only 22% are significantly investing in pipeline partnerships.
For-profit or non-profit status makes no difference
About 85% of healthcare executives who had an opinion on the topic say that a degree from a for-profit or non-profit institution makes no difference in hiring decisions.
As the American healthcare staffing gap grows, patient care suffers
Without enough doctors, nurses, technicians, behavioral health professionals and other clinicians, 50% of healthcare executives say they have little choice other than to scale back what they provide to patients, at least moderately.
The challenge exists everywhere. But it’s particularly acute for the positions hardest to fill—physician specialists, primary care physicians and various technician roles that are the most critical to patient care as well as in rural communities with fewer than 1 million residents and underserved communities where continuity of care and access are already fragile.
It’s no surprise that prior data collected by West Health and Gallup in 2025 shows one out of five Americans believe the U.S. healthcare system is in a state of crisis—the highest in 30 years.
The numbers behind this crisis are stark: 8.4 million open healthcare jobs in the last year. That means every month employers post approximately 702,000 healthcare jobs. Only an average of 306,000 unemployed healthcare workers exist to fill them. Healthcare executives also see little hope on the horizon. Only 18% believe there’s enough talent for current needs. Looking five years ahead? That drops to just 14%.
The data in this report shows how the healthcare workforce gap is no longer simply a staffing problem, it’s become a patient care quality crisis and current approaches only tackle the symptoms rather than supply. We need to consider new approaches to finding solutions.
State of healthcare staffing by geography
$86,000. That's the median salary advertised for open healthcare roles and it’s 48% more than what current healthcare workers earn, according to the Covista Care Capacity Monitor. Despite the pay increases, healthcare positions are still going unfilled, especially in nursing.
Why isn't higher pay fixing the healthcare staffing gap?
69% of healthcare executives cite competition for compensation as a barrier to hiring— proof that traditional recruiting strategies aren't working. Higher salaries, signing bonuses and job board postings compete for the same limited talent pool but don't expand it. When advertised salaries exceed current worker pay by nearly half and vacancies still persist, the problem isn't a willingness to invest but a lack of supply.
Staffing shortages affect healthcare providers across the country. But the problem is particularly acute in some geographies and among certain medical disciplines. This interactive map can help you compare your market to others around the country. (Media or others who use this data should cite Covista Care Capacity Monitor, 2026 as the source).
Occupational workforce breakdown
Explore which medical disciplines are in greatest demand. Workforce data illustrates how certain positions—from MRI technicians and Nurse Anesthetists to Radiation Therapists and Cardiovascular technicians—are particularly difficult to fill. Use the tables below to review the data.
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, all other | 201,116 | 2.20 | 1,019,767 | 90.40 | $230,000 |
| Surgeons, all other | 24,413 | 14.00 | 64,427 | 90.50 | $484,000 |
| Psychiatrists | 48,643 | 12,972 | 86.20 | ||
| Podiatrists | 3,487 | $140,000 | |||
| Family medicine physicians | 112,395 | ||||
| Obstetricians and gynecologists | 52,406 | ||||
| Emergency medicine physicians | 33,686 | ||||
| General internal medicine physicians | 35,189 | ||||
| Radiologists | 32,321 | ||||
| Cardiologists | 32,272 | ||||
| Anesthesiologists | 29,386 | ||||
| Pediatricians, general | 33,330 | ||||
| Neurologists | 27,694 | ||||
| Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric | 19,552 | ||||
| Dermatologists | 11,141 | ||||
| Physicians, pathologists | 7,277 | ||||
| Pediatric surgeons | 7,055 | ||||
| Ophthalmologists, except pediatric | 4,631 |
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 2,645,339 | 4.00 | 3,716,672 | 86.50 | $77,000 |
| Nurse practitioners | 205,979 | 5.90 | 342,127 | 93.10 | $116,000 |
| Physician assistants | 66,247 | 3.30 | 183,219 | 94.20 | $120,000 |
| Nurse anesthetists | 37,103 | 8.20 | 51,538 | 90.50 | $210,000 |
| Nurse midwives | 2,545 |
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | 334,161 | 10.70 | 319,541 | 89.60 | $80,000 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 194,071 | 6.10 | 227,791 | 88.20 | $67,000 |
| Occupational therapists | 151,108 | 4.80 | 165,270 | 88.80 | $72,000 |
| Respiratory therapists | 116,166 | 7.90 | 138,844 | 89.30 | $70,000 |
| Pharmacists | 99,866 | 1.80 | 391,161 | 88.20 | $123,000 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 92,618 | 2.90 | 113,160 | 84.80 | $60,000 |
| Recreational therapists | 24,741 | 29.50 | 15,959 | 84.90 | $47,000 |
| Radiation therapists | 21,716 | 26.80 | 15,364 | 87.90 | $80,000 |
| Optometrists | 16,942 | 26.30 | 52,089 | 88.40 | $128,000 |
| Audiologists | 9,753 | 2.20 | 22,045 | 90.40 | $91,000 |
| Therapists, all other | 7,210 | 0.10 | 277,907 | 91.70 | $54,000 |
| Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other | 6,582 | 0.60 | 14,147 | 76.70 | $28,800 |
| Exercise physiologists | 7,082 |
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatric technicians | 33,980 | 0.30 | 168,199 | 88.30 | $34,000 |
| Psychiatric aides | 36,543 |
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home health and personal care aides | 550,191 | 1.10 | 592,789 | 77.20 | $23,000 |
| Nursing assistants | 228,069 | 0.30 | 1,376,223 | 80.90 | $32,000 |
| Medical assistants | 222,716 | 0.70 | 682,444 | 83.10 | $35,400 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 87,095 | 1.60 | 134,489 | 82.20 | $45,000 |
| Phlebotomists | 80,492 | 1.30 | 131,793 | 84.20 | $35,000 |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 35,769 | 1.50 | 44,529 | 83.80 | $42,000 |
| Healthcare support workers, all other | 29,560 | 0.30 | 210,432 | 85.00 | $42,000 |
| Orderlies | 15,648 | 0.40 | 62,003 | 78.40 | $35,000 |
| Medical transcriptionists | 11,625 | 0.40 | 47,947 | 63.80 | $22,000 |
| Pharmacy aides | 2,355 | 0.20 | 35,381 | 85.50 | $30,000 |
| Medical equipment preparers | 28,526 | ||||
| Occupational therapy aides | 15,954 | ||||
| Physical therapist aides | 9,477 |
| Occupation | Vacancies | Vacancies per job seeker | Total workers | Employment Rate | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health technologists and technicians, all other | 328,988 | 3.00 | 288,550 | 86.90 | $50,000 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | 326,089 | 1.20 | 591,639 | 82.00 | $48,000 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | 293,841 | 7.10 | 254,174 | 88.00 | $65,000 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 183,396 | 1.20 | 430,531 | 85.10 | $36,000 |
| Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians | 145,164 | 1.60 | 332,677 | 82.90 | $52,000 |
| Magnetic resonance imaging technologists | 143,267 | 10.70 | 54,816 | 92.00 | $81,200 |
| Cardiovascular technologists and technicians | 123,813 | 26.00 | 50,850 | 89.10 | $62,000 |
| Surgical technologists | 80,840 | 1.70 | 123,595 | 89.40 | $54,000 |
| Diagnostic medical sonographers | 75,178 | 4.00 | 116,565 | 88.70 | $75,000 |
| Medical records specialists | 57,076 | 1.00 | 195,545 | 86.50 | $45,000 |
| Nuclear medicine technologists | 22,010 | 5.60 | 38,767 | 92.70 | $100,000 |
| Emergency medical technicians | 18,789 | 0.40 | 153,302 | 86.10 | $37,000 |
| Opticians, dispensing | 17,542 | 0.60 | 77,060 | 83.60 | $42,000 |
| Paramedics | 17,087 | 0.50 | 136,392 | 89.50 | $68,000 |
| Dietetic technicians | 7,913 | 0.10 | 84,359 | 80.50 | $24,000 |
| Ophthalmic medical technicians | 21,432 | ||||
| Hearing aid specialists | 3,839 | ||||
| Medical dosimetrists | 2,297 | ||||
| Orthotists and prosthetists | 1,692 |
We surveyed more than 1,300 healthcare clinicians and 160 healthcare executives to understand how the shortage affects them. Based on the data, Covista believes the talent shortage has escalated from a staffing issue to a patient care quality crisis.
Healthcare executives struggling to fill clinical roles report devastating consequences such as cuts to inpatient visits, reduced service hours and temporarily closed medical unit beds. 84% of healthcare executives have reduced their capacity to serve patients, with half scaling back care moderately or significantly.
Clinicians on the front lines witness this erosion daily: 76% say staffing shortages compromise their ability to deliver high-quality care.
Not someday. Now. And without intervention, the trajectory only worsens.
AI is a valuable tool, but not a singular solution
AI is reshaping healthcare—driving efficiency, enhancing diagnostics and creating new ways to support patient care. Clinicians and executives view AI as central to the future of healthcare, especially as a tool to help streamline administrative tasks, which can free up more time to spend with patients.
Clinicians and leaders see potential
Executives making investments
Clinicians have other priorities
Impact acute in rural areas
The map below shows something remarkable. Graduates of Covista’s American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and Ross University School of Medicine are delivering direct patient care in communities stretching from the coastlines to the interior of the country—across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Urban hospitals. Rural clinics. Over 17,000 physicians, embedded in the fabric of America’s healthcare system.
The shortage is real
According to the Covista Care Capacity Monitor, 76% of clinicians and 73% of healthcare executives report that staffing shortages are already affecting their ability to deliver high-quality care. Half of executives say those shortages have reduced their capacity to serve patients altogether.
Staffing gaps in rural and less urban areas have greater impact on care
In rural communities with fewer than 1 million residents, staffing shortages are more likely to significantly affect care delivery. Clinicians in rural and less urban areas report greater negative impacts on care quality and organizations in these communities are more likely to experience reduced capacity, including fewer appointments, limited services and constrained access to care.
Hiring is harder outside large metro areas
Healthcare leaders in rural and less urban areas face greater difficulty recruiting clinicians due to limited local talent pools and increased competition: 85% cite local talent shortages as a major barrier—nearly double the rate of large metro organizations—making persistent vacancies harder to fill across critical roles.
What the data shows
These findings highlight how workforce shortages disproportionately affect communities outside large metro areas and diminish care access.
of leaders outside large metro areas say local talent shortages are a major hiring barrier (vs. 45% in large metro areas)
of clinicians in rural and less urban areas say staffing shortages negatively impact care quality
monthly vacancies exist per unemployed worker in rural and less urban areas, compared to 1.7 monthly vacancies in large metro areas
Talent partnerships top the list of effective staffing strategies but are underutilized
Nearly 70% of healthcare executives say partnerships with education providers are somewhat to very effective workforce strategy in helping their organization meet its workforce needs—even slightly more effective than hiring and retention bonuses, upskilling existing staff and using staffing agencies. However, only half of the executives polled say their organization is significantly or moderately investing in partnerships with education providers.
How effective have pipeline partnerships with education providers been in helping your organization meet its workforce needs?
To what extent, if at all, is your organization investing financially in pipeline partnerships with education providers?
Non-profit and for-profit educations viewed similarly
Healthcare executives see little to no significant difference between clinicians who attended for-profit schools and those who went the non-profit route. 90% of clinicians say the type of institution they attended had no impact on whether they got a job.
When hiring for the following roles, is one type of degree valued more than the other, or not? (Among executive leaders)
"The workforce shortage affects care access, care quality and the sustainability of health systems nationwide. The Covista Care Capacity Monitor reflects a unified commitment to document the scope of America's healthcare workforce crisis through rigorous research, expand our capacity to address it and invest in the long-term sustainability of the healthcare talent pipeline. Covista exists to address that problem at scale."
For speaking inquiries, contact thoughtleadership@covista.com.