PracticeMatch has released a comprehensive white paper examining physician recruitment trends following the 2025 Match Day, which saw over 44,000 applicants competing for nearly 41,000 residency slots. The report highlights persistent critical shortages in primary care, OB-GYN, psychiatry, and rural healthcare, providing healthcare organizations with data-driven strategies for effective physician recruitment.
The research, based on exclusive first-party verified opt-in data from thousands of residents and fellows, reveals that location loyalty significantly influences physician career decisions. Approximately 60% of physicians accept their first post-training position in the same state as their residency program, emphasizing the importance of early engagement during training periods. This finding suggests that healthcare organizations should establish relationships with physicians well before they complete their training.
Specialty-specific mobility patterns emerged as another critical finding. Surgeons typically relocate more than 150 miles on average for their first positions, while primary care physicians move approximately 20 miles. The data also shows that only 12% of physicians begin their careers in the same ZIP code as their residency program, indicating that most seek opportunities beyond their immediate training environment.
The white paper addresses significant workforce pressures, including physician burnout that costs the U.S. healthcare system an estimated $4.6 billion annually. Nearly one-third of the current physician workforce is approaching retirement age, compounding existing staffing challenges. These factors create urgent recruitment needs that healthcare organizations must address through strategic planning and data-informed approaches.
PracticeMatch's proprietary databases, developed through multi-year collaboration with MIT, capture essential indicators beyond traditional resume information. These systems track geographic preferences, practice type goals, and family considerations that help recruiters predict candidate mobility and readiness. This approach enables more targeted outreach and reduces time-to-fill for critical positions, particularly important given rising immigration and credentialing complexities.
The research also examines how policy changes, including new state laws allowing certain internationally trained physicians to practice without repeating U.S. residency requirements, will shape future recruitment landscapes. As healthcare organizations face increasing competition for limited physician talent, access to up-to-date verified data becomes essential for effective recruitment strategies. The full white paper is available for download at https://www.practicematch.com/.
