The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and APTA Private Practice have released their third annual survey, titled “APTA Benchmark Report: Hiring Challenges in Outpatient Physical Therapy Practices, 2024.” This report provides crucial insights into the ongoing hiring and workforce trends in the outpatient physical therapy sector, highlighting the persistent challenges clinics face in maintaining adequate staffing levels despite the declining impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. Ongoing Staffing Challenges
- APTA President Roger Herr emphasized the report’s significance, stating it highlights the dual challenges of growth and staffing in the profession as the demand for physical therapist (PT) services continues to rise due to an aging population.
- The report indicates that outpatient clinics are struggling to meet this demand, which necessitates urgent attention to staffing issues.
2. Labor Market Dynamics
- The physical therapy labor market remains favorable for job seekers, with outpatient practices reporting both an increase in employees and job openings.
- Notably, the national vacancy rate for outpatient PT practices is 9.5%, nearly double the overall U.S. national average vacancy rate of 4.8% across all industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Growth in Job Openings
- From 2023 to 2024, the report indicates a 2.1% increase in total job openings, with a 3.2% increase for physical therapists and a 17.2% increase for physical therapist assistants.
- Approximately 13% of positions for both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants remain unfilled at outpatient clinics.
4. Drivers of Position Openings
- Company growth emerged as the primary reason for current job openings, followed by employee turnover due to factors such as relocation, better pay opportunities elsewhere, and concerns about work-life balance.
The APTA Benchmark Report offers invaluable insights into the hiring landscape for outpatient physical therapy practices. It highlights the pressing need for strategies to address staffing challenges as the industry continues to grow. Mike Horsfield, president of APTA Private Practice, noted that the report serves as a vital resource for practice owners and job seekers alike, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring of workforce trends to support the private practice sector.