The future demand for anesthesiologists is solid given U.S. demographic trends, return of elective surgeries and procedures, and ongoing critical care needs.

<p>
  Anesthesiologists were called to the front lines of the war on COVID-19,
  serving an invaluable role in ventilator operation, intubating, and even
  managing the overall care of critical patients &ndash; as airway experts,
  respiratory physicians, and intensivists. While the demand for critical care
  anesthesiologists to fight the pandemic skyrocketed, other non-critical care
  areas of the profession were negatively impacted due to the cancelling or
  postponement of non-essential surgical procedures. These factors have
  influenced the current and future labor market dynamics for these essential
  healthcare professionals.
</p>

<h2>Overall Supply and Demand Projections.</h2>

<p>
  There are currently an
  <a
    href="https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/anesthesiologist/job-market/"
    target="_blank"
    >estimated 33,000 anesthesiologists</a
  >
  in the United States, and the job market is expected to grow by 15.5% between
  2016 and 2026. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a
  shortfall of almost 140,000 physicians by 2033, with around
  <a
    href="https://mbmps.com/the-future-of-anesthesiology-how-anesthesiologist-and-crna-shortages-are-making-an-impact/"
    target="_blank"
    >12,500 of them being anesthesiologists.</a
  >
</p>

<p>
  Among anesthesiologists, baby boomers dominate, representing 37.6% of the
  sector but only 27% of the general U.S. workforce. With the aging of the U.S.
  population and the need to replace retiring anesthesiologists, ensuring a
  stead supply of these specialists will be paramount. The good news is the
  country is seeing a
  <a
    href="https://www.anesthesiologynews.com/PRN-/Article/08-19/Looming-Anesthesiologist-Shortage-Fuels-High-Market-Demand/55607?sub=4BACC71620F8CF647E6EA95F7DA3706AFC7823DDB3E5EF74F3F11EE4FE9A439&amp;&amp;enl=true&amp;&amp;dgid=&amp;&amp;utm_source=enl&amp;&amp;utm_content=1&amp;&amp;utm_campaign=20190814&amp;&amp;utm_medium=button"
    target="_blank"
    >20% increase </a
  >in graduates and graduate medical education positions since 2015, producing
  over 1,800 anesthesiologists on a yearly basis.
</p>

<h2>Dramatic Increase in Demand for Critical Care Anesthesiologists.</h2>

<p>
  Interestingly, the U.S. is the only developed nation where anesthesiologists
  do not routinely manage critical care. However, the pandemic may revive this
  practice area. In fact, the
  <a
    href="https://socca.org/newsletter/increased-interest-in-critical-care-among-anesthesia-residents-during-covid-19-pandemic/"
    target="_blank"
    >Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists</a
  >
  already witnessed a growing interest among residents during the pandemic,
  stating &ldquo;we have seen a remarkable effort by anesthesia residents
  volunteering for ICU shifts, irrespective of their post graduate year and
  level of training, or even future plans for further critical care
  training.&rdquo;
</p>

<p>
  According to
  <a
    href="https://www.anesthesiologynews.com/PRN-/Article/08-19/Looming-Anesthesiologist-Shortage-Fuels-High-Market-Demand/55607?sub=4BACC71620F8CF647E6EA95F7DA3706AFC7823DDB3E5EF74F3F11EE4FE9A439&amp;&amp;enl=true&amp;&amp;dgid=&amp;&amp;utm_source=enl&amp;&amp;utm_content=1&amp;&amp;utm_campaign=20190814&amp;&amp;utm_medium=button"
    target="_blank"
    >another estimate</a
  >, of anesthesiology graduates each year, roughly 200 will go into pain
  medicine and another 50-75 will go into critical care.
</p>

<h2>Non-Critical Care Anesthesiology May See Future Surge in Demand.</h2>

<p>
  The cancelling or postponement of non-essential surgical procedures during the
  height of the pandemic created a workforce reduction for non-critical care,
  surgical anesthesiologists, and practices. As the pandemic continues to
  improve and consumers begin to feel more comfortable pursuing postponed
  surgical procedures, we will likely see a surge in demand for surgical and
  other non-critical care anesthesiologists.
</p>

<h2>Future of Anesthesiology.</h2>

<p>
  The future demand for anesthesiologists is solid given U.S. demographic
  trends, return of elective surgeries and procedures, and ongoing critical care
  needs. In addition, while much of the medical industry is shifting to
  telemedicine as a result of the pandemic, anesthesia is not. Surgeries
  can&rsquo;t be done over a computer screen and where there is a surgery, there
  is an anesthesia professional.
</p>

<p>
  With the growing demand for anesthesia services, many healthcare facilities
  are utilizing alternative staffing solutions, such as locum tenens to not only
  gain the anesthesia services they need, but also reducing healthcare spending
  since they only pay for the demand their facility incurs.
</p>

<p>
  To gain more insight into the changing labor market dynamics for
  anesthesiologists, download our latest Market Snapshot:
  <a
    href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/lp-anesthesiologists?leadSource=Blog&campaignCode=BLANEMKTTREND"
    target="_blank"
    >Anesthesiologists</a
  >.
</p>


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