The 2017 ACR Commission on Human Resources Workforce Survey

Area of Science:

• Medical workforce analysis
• Radiology professional trends
• Healthcare human resources

Background:

• The American College of Radiology (ACR) Commission on Human Resources annually surveys the radiology workforce.
• Understanding the current and future composition of the radiology profession is crucial for strategic planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current makeup of the radiology workforce by subspecialty.
• To identify hiring trends and future needs for radiologists and midlevel practitioners.
• To gain insights into the radiology profession's dynamics.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to leaders of Radiology Environment Database practices.
• Respondents provided data on current workforce demographics, subspecialty distribution, and hiring numbers for 2016, 2017, and 2020.
• Information on midlevel practitioners was also collected.

Main Results:

• Survey response included 477 practice leaders, representing 11,056 radiologists (33% of US practicing radiologists).
• Workforce demographics (age, practice type) remained stable since 2012; 6% are over 65, 16% part-time, 21.5% female.
• Hiring increased from 1,569-2,037 in 2016 to an anticipated 1,826-2,370 in 2017 (14.1% rise).
• Top recruited subspecialties for 2017 include neuroradiology, interventional radiology, after-hours radiology, and body imaging. Approximately 2,156 midlevel practitioners are employed.

Conclusions:

• The 2017 ACR workforce study presents an optimistic job market for aspiring radiologists.
• Practice leaders face a more competitive hiring landscape compared to previous years.