The U.S. is on track to add about 5.2 million jobs between 2024 and 2034, and healthcare and social assistance are projected to lead that growth both in total jobs added and in percentage growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts that employment in healthcare and social assistance will rise 8.4% over the decade, driven largely by an aging population and rising rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
For healthcare employers planning long-term staffing, this expansion presents both an opportunity and a challenge. Demand will rise across clinical and support roles from advanced practitioners to home health aides making nurse recruitment and broader healthcare staffing strategies critical. For many facilities, hiring international nurses and other qualified foreign healthcare professionals will be an essential part of meeting demand.
BLS: fastest-growing healthcare occupations by 2034
The BLS list of healthcare occupations with the highest projected employment growth rates underscores where pressure on workforce pipelines will be strongest:
- Nurse practitioners – 40%
- Medical and health services managers – 23%
- Physical therapist assistants – 22%
- Physician assistants – 20%
- Psychiatric technicians – 20%
- Ophthalmic medical technicians – 20%
- Occupational therapy assistants – 19%
- Hearing aid specialists – 18%
- Health specialties teachers, postsecondary – 17%
- Home health and personal care aides – 17%
- Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary – 17%
- Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors – 17%
What this means for healthcare employers
- Intensified competition for clinical staff: Rapid growth in roles like nurse practitioners and physician assistants will increase competition for experienced clinicians.
- Greater demand for entry-level and paraprofessional roles: Expansion of home health and personal care services will raise demand for aides and technicians, key to outpatient and community-based care.
- Strain on education and training pipelines: With postsecondary health specialties and nursing instructors among the fastest-growing occupations, training capacity will need to expand to produce more domestic clinicians.
- Need for strategic international recruitment: To meet immediate and long-term care delivery needs, hiring international nurses and clinical staff will be a strategic necessity for many hospitals, long-term care facilities and home health agencies.
How hiring international nurses helps close the gap
International nurses and other foreign-trained healthcare professionals can be an effective, ethical component of a comprehensive staffing plan. Benefits include:
- Access to a broader, experienced talent pool to fill immediate vacancies.
- Support for underserved areas and specialty programs where domestic supply is limited.
- Flexibility to scale staffing for growth in outpatient, home health and long-term care services.
Immigration considerations for healthcare employers
Bringing international nurses and clinicians into the U.S. workforce requires careful planning, compliance and timing. Employers need to manage credential evaluations, state licensure requirements, and immigration processes which can include employment-based immigrant visas (such as EB-3 for many nurses), nonimmigrant work visas, and other pathways depending on qualifications and recruiting goals. Start early: some immigration processes and credentialing steps can take many months.
Why partner with VisaMadeEZ for nurse recruitment and immigration law for healthcare
VisaMadeEZ specializes in helping hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and staffing agencies hire international nurses and healthcare professionals. Our services combine immigration law expertise with healthcare staffing know-how to deliver practical nurse staffing solutions:
- Tailored immigration strategies for hiring international nurses and clinicians
- Assistance with visa selection, case preparation and filing (employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant pathways)
- Credentialing and licensure guidance in coordination with recruitment teams
- Compliance support to minimize immigration and labor risks
- Workforce planning advice to align hiring timelines with care delivery needs
If your organization is planning to expand services, open new clinics, or address chronic staffing shortages, now is the time to build a nurse recruitment and immigration plan that aligns with projected industry growth. With healthcare employment expected to grow at 8.4% through 2034 and specific occupations like nurse practitioners forecast to expand by 40% proactive hiring of international nurses and clinicians can be the decisive factor in maintaining quality patient care.
Contact VisaMadeEZ to discuss nurse staffing solutions and immigration strategies for your healthcare organization. Our team will evaluate your workforce needs, explain visa options, and help you implement a compliant and efficient hiring process so you can focus on delivering care.
