Registered nurses are expected to see 5.1% projected growth from 2023 to 2033, yet staffing pressure is visible across the system. With $10.0 billion spent on agency nursing in 2023 and 63% of healthcare providers using temporary or contract staffing to cover gaps, Nursing Job demand is being met with speed rather than supply. Let’s put these workforce signals side by side and see what they imply for nurses, facilities, and patient care.
Key Takeaways
- 4.7 million jobs in healthcare were vacant in the U.S. in 2023, contributing to competition for nursing talent
- 16.9% of hospitals reported experiencing a shortage of registered nurses in 2023 in a staffing survey, reflecting supply constraints
- 16% of nurse practitioners reported that their primary barrier to taking more patients is staffing capacity (including nursing support) in 2023
- 5.1% projected employment growth for registered nurses in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033, reflecting expected expansion of the role
- 2.0% employment growth projected for LPN/LVNs in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033, indicating more gradual expansion than RNs
- 63% of healthcare providers reported using temporary/contract staffing to address nursing shortages in 2023, reflecting reliance on staffing augmentation
- 17% of U.S. registered nurses worked overtime in 2022, indicating sustained workload and staffing strain
- A 2023 study found that each additional 10 patients per day per nurse was associated with increased risk of mortality outcomes, showing workload-health impacts
- $10.0 billion spent on agency nursing in the U.S. in 2023, reflecting the scale of supplemental staffing
- $46.2 billion global home health care services market size in 2024, indicating broader labor demand that includes nurses
- $5.1 billion global nursing staffing services market size in 2024, showing the dedicated spend on nursing labor solutions
- The U.S. had 2.1 million healthcare workers employed in home health in 2023, many of whom are nurses and allied clinicians
- 1.5 million people were employed as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) in the U.S. in 2023, adding to nursing workforce capacity
- The U.S. had 1.9 million nursing assistants and orderlies employed in 2023, indicating related direct care roles supporting nursing
- In 2022, registered nurses were the largest occupation in the healthcare workforce category in the U.S., representing 59.3% of healthcare support and clinical roles in employment
With rising shortages and heavy overtime, nurses face sustained workload pressure as staffing gaps drive growing demand and agency spending.
Workforce Demand
14.7 million jobs in healthcare were vacant in the U.S. in 2023, contributing to competition for nursing talent[1]
Verified
216.9% of hospitals reported experiencing a shortage of registered nurses in 2023 in a staffing survey, reflecting supply constraints[2]
Verified
316% of nurse practitioners reported that their primary barrier to taking more patients is staffing capacity (including nursing support) in 2023[3]
Verified
Workforce Demand Interpretation
Under the workforce demand lens, the U.S. health system still faces a hard staffing pull, with 4.7 million healthcare jobs vacant in 2023 and 16.9% of hospitals reporting registered nurse shortages, while nurse practitioners also cite 16% staffing capacity limits as their main barrier to taking on more patients.
Workforce Growth
15.1% projected employment growth for registered nurses in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033, reflecting expected expansion of the role[4]
Single source
22.0% employment growth projected for LPN/LVNs in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033, indicating more gradual expansion than RNs[5]
Verified
Workforce Growth Interpretation
From a workforce growth perspective, the U.S. is projected to add nursing capacity at a faster pace for registered nurses with 5.1% employment growth from 2023 to 2033 than for LPNs and LVNs at 2.0%, signaling stronger expansion of higher-credential roles.
Working Conditions
163% of healthcare providers reported using temporary/contract staffing to address nursing shortages in 2023, reflecting reliance on staffing augmentation[6]
Verified
217% of U.S. registered nurses worked overtime in 2022, indicating sustained workload and staffing strain[7]
Verified
3A 2023 study found that each additional 10 patients per day per nurse was associated with increased risk of mortality outcomes, showing workload-health impacts[8]
Verified
4In 2023, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that 35% of hospitals experienced delays in care due to staffing shortages including nursing roles[9]
Single source
5The BLS reports that registered nurses worked a median of 36 hours per week in May 2023, supporting staffing model assumptions[10]
Verified
Working Conditions Interpretation
Working conditions for nurses are under pressure, with 63% of healthcare providers using temporary or contract staffing and 17% of U.S. registered nurses working overtime in 2022, while staffing shortages contributed to 35% of hospitals seeing delays in care in 2023 and heavier daily patient loads are linked to higher mortality risk.
Cost Analysis
1$10.0 billion spent on agency nursing in the U.S. in 2023, reflecting the scale of supplemental staffing[11]
Single source
Cost Analysis Interpretation
In the cost analysis lens, the $10.0 billion spent on agency nursing in the U.S. in 2023 highlights how much supplemental staffing drives healthcare spending.
Market Size
1$46.2 billion global home health care services market size in 2024, indicating broader labor demand that includes nurses[12]
Verified
2$5.1 billion global nursing staffing services market size in 2024, showing the dedicated spend on nursing labor solutions[13]
Verified
3The U.S. had 2.1 million healthcare workers employed in home health in 2023, many of whom are nurses and allied clinicians[14]
Verified
45.6% of healthcare workers in the U.S. were employed in nursing-related roles as nursing support and direct care in 2023, reflecting role concentration[15]
Single source
Market Size Interpretation
In 2024 the nursing market signal is strong because the global home health care services market is $46.2 billion while the dedicated nursing staffing services market reaches $5.1 billion, showing that large-scale care demand is translating into substantial, specialized spend on nursing labor.
Workforce Supply
11.5 million people were employed as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPN/LVNs) in the U.S. in 2023, adding to nursing workforce capacity[16]
Verified
2The U.S. had 1.9 million nursing assistants and orderlies employed in 2023, indicating related direct care roles supporting nursing[17]
Directional
Workforce Supply Interpretation
In 2023, the nursing workforce supply looked stronger than before with 1.5 million LPN/LVNs adding capacity alongside 1.9 million nursing assistants and orderlies in direct care roles that support bedside staffing.
Industry Trends
1In 2022, registered nurses were the largest occupation in the healthcare workforce category in the U.S., representing 59.3% of healthcare support and clinical roles in employment[18]
Verified
2The U.S. nursing shortage index reached 1.26 in 2022 in a report by Healthforce Center, indicating severity above parity[19]
Directional
332% of hospitals reported using nurse staffing software (workforce management) in 2023, reflecting adoption of scheduling optimization[20]
Verified
470% of nurse managers reported that electronic rostering tools improved schedule consistency in 2023 survey results[21]
Single source
5By 2024, 30% of U.S. states had adopted or updated nurse staffing regulations requiring minimum staffing levels, influencing staffing needs[22]
Verified
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends show nursing is under mounting pressure and being actively managed with technology, as the U.S. nursing shortage index hit 1.26 in 2022 and by 2023 32% of hospitals used nurse staffing software and 70% of nurse managers said electronic rostering improved schedule consistency.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Nursing Job Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-job-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Nursing Job Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/nursing-job-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Nursing Job Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/nursing-job-statistics.
References
- 1bls.gov/news.release/jolts.htm
- 4bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm
- 5bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm
- 7bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t01.htm
- 10bls.gov/cps/cpsaat18.htm
- 14bls.gov/oes/current/oes211099.htm
- 16bls.gov/oes/current/oes291141.htm
- 17bls.gov/oes/current/oes311011.htm
- 18bls.gov/oes/special.requests/oesm19.htm
- 2ahajournals.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01311
- 3ajmc.com/view/barriers-to-increasing-patient-volume-survey-2023
- 6mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems-and-services/our-insights/the-state-of-healthcare-workforce-staffing-models-and-wage-inflation
- 8jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2800350
- 9ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/hospital-care.html
- 11ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/nursing-services-industry/
- 12grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/home-health-care-services-market
- 13marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/nurse-staffing-services-market-115787535.html
- 15data.bls.gov/timeseries/CEU6563711
- 19healthforce.ucsf.edu/sites/healthforce.ucsf.edu/files/publication-pdf/NSI_2022.pdf
- 20healthcaredive.com/news/nurse-scheduling-software-adoption-survey-2023/655098/
- 21himss.org/resources/electronic-rostering-tools-improve-consistency-survey
- 22ncsl.org/health/nurse-staffing-ratios