Healthcare staffing remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. labor market. In 2025, demand for nurses, allied health clinicians, home health workers, and per-diem personnel continues to surge while facility payment pressures and workforce shortages intensify.
Below are 25+ healthcare staffing statistics for 2025, organized by market growth, pay trends, shortages, financial challenges, and technology adoption.
Market Growth & Industry Size
- The U.S. healthcare staffing industry is projected to reach $64.5 billion in 2025, up 11% year-over-year (SIA, 2025).
- Travel nurse staffing accounts for over 47% of total temporary healthcare labor spend.
- Per-diem nurse staffing demand rose 18% from 2023 to 2025 due to hospital census volatility.
- Allied health staffing is expected to grow 9% in 2025 driven by imaging and rehab needs.
- 62% of healthcare facilities report an ongoing reliance on external staffing to maintain minimum safe staffing.
Workforce Shortages
- The U.S. faces a projected shortage of 200,000+ RNs by 2025 (BLS).
- 72% of hospitals report difficulty hiring full-time RNs, up from 55% in 2022.
- 1 in 3 experienced nurses report considering leaving bedside roles in 2025.
- Home health and long-term care facilities report highest vacancy rates, averaging 23–27%.
- 54% of healthcare facilities rely on agency staffing to cover chronic shifts weekly.
Pay & Compensation Trends
- Average national travel RN weekly pay in 2025 is $2,420, a 6% increase from 2024.
- ICU travel nurse pay averages $2,700 per week, among the highest specialties.
- Per-diem RN pay increased 13% from 2023 to 2025.
- Nurse practitioners have seen a 7% pay increase across major systems.
- Overtime usage climbed 22% in 2025 for full-time clinical staff.
Healthcare Facility Insights
- 78% of hospitals report paying invoices on net-45 or longer.
- 35% of facilities now use VMS (Vendor Management Systems) as their primary staffing management layer.
- 68% of hospitals report budgetary pressure due to higher traveler rates.
- 49% of facilities report outsourcing revenue cycle management to reduce A/R aging.
Cash Flow & Financial Pressures on Staffing Agencies
- Average staffing agency Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) is 49 days in 2025 (SIA).
- Payroll accounts for 75–85% of operating expenses for nurse staffing firms.
- 41% of healthcare staffing agencies use invoice factoring or payroll funding to stabilize cash flow (IFA, 2025).
- 30% of agencies cite late facility payments as their #1 operational risk.
- 53% of small staffing agencies report difficulty accessing traditional loans.
- Factoring advances average 85–90% of invoice value for healthcare staffing.
Technology & Operational Trends
- 57% of staffing agencies adopted digital credentialing tools by 2025.
- 46% use AI-assisted scheduling or matching algorithms.
- 32% of agencies implemented mobile timesheet systems to reduce disputes.
- 63% use automated A/R and invoicing platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Healthcare staffing continues to grow rapidly despite workforce shortages.
- Pay rates remain elevated due to demand across all facility types.
- Facilities pay slower, increasing the need for cash flow solutions.
- A/R pressure is one of the top financial challenges staffing agencies face.
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