Key takeaways
- Healthcare’s staffing challenges are accelerating the need for flexible workforce models that can help facilities respond to fluctuating demand and persistent clinician shortages.
- The gig economy offers clinicians more autonomy and control, making it an increasingly attractive option for clinicians.
- Healthcare leaders who embrace gig staffing now are likely to stay competitive and create supportive environments for their clinicians
The American healthcare system is at a critical tipping point regarding staffing shortages. With a projected shortage of over 85,000 physicians by 2036 and 92% of healthcare leaders reporting worsening staff well-being due to shortages, health systems are feeling the pressure.
For many facilities and clinicians, the gig economy is the solution that's gaining major momentum.
What is the gig economy?
For decades, "gig work" was associated with delivery and transportation services. Today, it encompasses an entire range of professions characterized by short-term, flexible freelance or contract work rather than traditional permanent jobs. From designers and developers to clinicians and consultants, the gig economy has reshaped countless industries. As of 2025, at least 42 million people in the United States are engaged in some form of gig work.
The healthcare sector has already been taking advantage of the benefits gig work provides. With 81% of healthcare leaders noting delays due to staffing shortages, especially for patients in rural and underserved areas facing barriers to care, the gig economy has become the solution that is here to stay.
Why gig work fits healthcare’s future
Healthcare presents unique scenarios that make it well -suited to gig staffing models. Patient volumes naturally fluctuate unpredictably and seasonally, and traditional models thrive on steadiness and predictability. Gig workers can provide on-demand flexibility to match staffing to real-time demand.
Additionally, factors such as burnout and rising demands are driving clinicians away from traditional roles, with nearly half of U.S. physicians reporting feeling burned out. The gig economy challenges that, thriving on autonomy.
With 37 of 50 U.S. states projecting a healthcare workforce shortage by 2028, gig models not only connect available clinicians with understaffed facilities nationwide but also enable them to balance their professional and personal goals.
The gig economy isn’t just growing, it's accelerating
The shift towards the gig economy isn’t slowing down. Many gig workers are optimistic about the field's future, with younger professionals in particular driving change.
In healthcare, that means a new generation of clinicians is entering the workforce with different expectations about how, when and where they work. Many aren’t interested in traditional career paths defined by rigid schedules and strict limitations. Instead, they're looking for flexibility and control over their careers, with opportunities that best fit their lives.
What this means for leaders
Organizations that embrace gig models now will be better positioned to recruit talent, adapt to changing staffing needs and remain competitive. If not, you may be leaving the door open for even more shortages and rising labor costs.
Making gig work successful requires more than simply filling open shifts. Organizations need the right technology, processes and intentional onboarding to help clinicians get up to speed quickly and feel connected to the organization's mission and culture.
At LocumTenens.com, we provide the infrastructure and expertise that transforms gig staffing from transactional to meaningful. We streamline credentialing, onboarding and scheduling all while connecting the right clinicians to the right places, allowing your sole focus to be patient care. With more than three decades of experience, we help both clinicians and organizations build the right environment to help gig models thrive.
