The big picture: Physicians are increasingly embracing locum tenens as a deliberate career strategy, fundamentally rewriting the traditional arc of medical employment.

Why it matters: This physician-led shift demands new talent acquisition and retention models from healthcare providers and staffing firms, impacting workforce planning.

Between the lines:

• 41% of physicians report having worked locum tenens, a significant jump from 20% in 2016.
• This trend is driven by physicians themselves, not policy or hospital administration.

Staffing & HR impact: Healthcare staffing firms must evolve their service offerings to cater to this growing contingent workforce, influencing recruiter specialization and gross margins. HR leaders need to understand and support flexible physician employment models.

The bottom line: The future of physician employment is increasingly flexible and physician-centric.