The U.S. nursing workforce continues to shift, and the latest wage and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights a familiar challenge for hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health providers, and healthcare systems: the demand for qualified nurses remains strong, but the domestic labor supply is not keeping pace across every role.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on May 13, employment and wage trends varied across seven nursing occupations, including registered nurses, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, nursing instructors, and other advanced practice nursing roles.
For healthcare employers, the numbers tell an important story. While some nursing positions experienced modest wage declines and several roles saw drops in total employment, demand for skilled nursing professionals remains a major operational concern. These trends are one reason more healthcare organizations are exploring international nurse recruitment and immigration-based hiring strategies to build a more stable workforce.
| Nursing profession | 2025 annual mean pay | Percent change in pay vs. 2024 | 2025 number employed | Percent change in employed vs. 2024 |
| Nurse anesthetists | $248,320 | 3.7% | 51,840 | -3.6% |
| Nurse practitioners | $137,300 | -1% | 323,040 | 0.8% |
| Nurse midwives | $136,980 | -0.4% | 7,920 | -7.9% |
| Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary | $86,410 | 2.9% | 77,960 | −14.9% |
| Registered nurses | $101,420 | 0.3% | 3,379,720 | -0.3% |
| Licensed practical and vocational nurses | $67,050 | 7.6% | 648,410 | -0.5% |
| Nursing assistants | $42,700 | 1.2% | 1,448,910 | 0.5% |
Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses Saw the Largest Pay Growth
Licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses experienced the highest annual mean wage increase among the nursing roles reviewed. This reflects continued demand for LPNs and LVNs across a wide range of care settings, including:
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Assisted living communities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Home healthcare agencies
- Hospitals and outpatient clinics
- Long-term care organizations
The wage growth for LPNs and LVNs is especially significant because these professionals play a critical role in direct patient care. As the U.S. population ages and more patients require chronic care management, employers are under growing pressure to recruit and retain practical and vocational nurses.
For many healthcare facilities, domestic hiring alone may not be enough to meet staffing goals. International nurse hiring can help employers fill essential nursing positions while reducing long-term recruitment gaps.
Nurse Practitioners Led Employment Growth Across Nursing Roles
Nurse practitioners had the highest growth in the number of employed nurses across all settings. This trend reflects the expanding role of advanced practice providers in the U.S. healthcare system.
Nurse practitioners are increasingly used to improve access to care, especially in:
- Primary care clinics
- Rural healthcare facilities
- Urgent care centers
- Specialty practices
- Community health organizations
- Telehealth and hybrid care models
As physician shortages continue in many parts of the country, nurse practitioners are becoming even more important to healthcare delivery. Their growth signals that healthcare organizations are relying more heavily on advanced practice nurses to maintain patient access and improve clinical efficiency.
However, even with employment growth in this category, many employers still face difficulty finding enough qualified clinicians. For organizations open to global recruitment, immigration solutions for healthcare workers may offer a practical path forward.
Nursing Instructors Experienced the Largest Employment Decline
One of the most concerning findings was the decline in nursing instructor employment. Nursing instructors saw the greatest decrease, dropping by 14.9%.
This matters because nursing faculty shortages directly affect the future nursing pipeline. When schools do not have enough instructors, they may be forced to limit enrollment, delay program expansion, or turn away qualified nursing students. Over time, this can worsen the national nurse shortage.
Healthcare organizations are already feeling the impact of limited nursing school capacity. Fewer graduates entering the workforce means hospitals and care facilities must compete harder for available nurses, often increasing labor costs and vacancy rates.
International nurse recruitment can help bridge this gap by giving employers access to experienced nurses who are already trained and ready to pursue U.S. licensure and employment pathways.
Several Nursing Roles Saw Employment Declines
The Bureau of Labor Statistics data also showed that five nursing positions experienced employment declines. While the reasons may vary by occupation and setting, the overall trend reinforces the need for proactive workforce planning.
Employment declines can be influenced by several factors, including:
- Retirement among experienced nurses
- Burnout and career changes after the pandemic
- Limited domestic training capacity
- Geographic workforce imbalances
- Wage competition between healthcare employers
- Increased demand in high-acuity and long-term care settings
For employers, these changes can create serious staffing challenges. Vacant nursing positions can affect patient care, employee morale, regulatory compliance, and revenue stability.
That is why many healthcare organizations are now looking beyond traditional local recruiting and considering international nurse staffing strategies supported by experienced healthcare immigration counsel.
What These Trends Mean for Healthcare Employers
The latest nursing employment and wage data confirms what many healthcare leaders already know: the U.S. nursing labor market remains highly competitive.
Even when wages rise, healthcare employers may still struggle to fill open positions. Higher pay alone does not solve the underlying workforce shortage if there are not enough qualified nurses available domestically.
For hospitals, senior care providers, rehabilitation facilities, and home health agencies, this creates a need for long-term staffing solutions. International nurse hiring can be an effective strategy when properly managed through the appropriate immigration and credentialing process.
Common immigration options for healthcare employers may include employment-based green card sponsorship, Schedule A nurse petitions, and other visa strategies depending on the candidate’s qualifications, employer needs, and current immigration rules.
Why International Nurse Recruitment Is Becoming a Strategic Priority
Hiring international nurses is no longer just a backup plan for healthcare organizations. For many employers, it is becoming part of a sustainable workforce strategy.
International nurse recruitment can help healthcare organizations:
- Fill persistent nursing vacancies
- Reduce reliance on temporary staffing agencies
- Improve workforce stability
- Support long-term patient care planning
- Expand access to experienced clinical professionals
- Strengthen staffing in underserved or hard-to-recruit locations
However, the process requires careful legal guidance. Employers must navigate immigration filings, credential evaluations, licensure requirements, English-language testing, VisaScreen certification, consular processing, and timing considerations.
A well-designed international nurse hiring program can help avoid delays, reduce compliance risks, and improve hiring outcomes.
VisaMadeEZ Helps Healthcare Organizations Hire International Nurses
VisaMadeEZ is an immigration law firm focused on helping healthcare organizations hire international nurses and other healthcare professionals. Our team understands the unique staffing challenges facing hospitals, long-term care providers, rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and healthcare systems.
We help employers build practical immigration strategies for nurse recruitment, including guidance on:
- International nurse immigration pathways
- Employment-based green card sponsorship for nurses
- Schedule A nurse petitions
- Healthcare worker immigration compliance
- Nurse credentialing and documentation requirements
- VisaScreen and licensure-related immigration considerations
- Long-term workforce planning for healthcare employers
With nursing employment trends continuing to fluctuate, healthcare organizations need reliable hiring solutions that go beyond short-term fixes. International nurse recruitment can be a powerful tool but only when supported by experienced immigration counsel.
The Bottom Line
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows a nursing workforce in transition. Licensed practical and vocational nurses saw the strongest wage growth, nurse practitioners experienced the highest employment growth, and nursing instructors faced the sharpest decline.
For healthcare employers, these trends point to a clear reality: competition for nursing talent will remain intense. Organizations that want to maintain stable staffing levels should consider long-term workforce strategies, including international nurse hiring.
With the right legal support, healthcare employers can use immigration-based recruitment to address nurse shortages, improve staffing stability, and continue delivering high-quality patient care.
Ready to Build a Stronger Nursing Workforce?
Healthcare staffing challenges are not going away but your organization does not have to face them alone.
VisaMadeEZ helps healthcare employers recruit, sponsor, and hire qualified international nurses through strategic immigration solutions. Whether your organization is exploring international nurse recruitment for the first time or needs help improving an existing sponsorship program, our team can guide you through the process with clarity and confidence.
Schedule a consultation with VisaMadeEZ today to learn how international nurse hiring can support your healthcare organization’s long-term staffing goals.
Contact VisaMadeEZ now to start building a reliable global nursing pipeline.
