Unlocking Bright Futures: The Rising Demand for Med Techs in the USA

U.S. Lab Vacancies Equal Opportunities for Internationally Educated MTs

FACT: Direct patient care providers such as nurses and physicians do not drive most hospital services. Lab tests shape approximately two-thirds of all medical decisions made by US  physicians. Lab professionals, including medical technologists, performed an estimated 13 billion laboratory tests in the United  States each year before Covid.

Despite the importance of laboratory professionals, there is a growing labor shortage. According to Forbes, the US currently has a shortfall of up to 25,000 medical technologists, equating a position vacancy rate of 7% to 11% in almost every region.

Why, despite their importance, is there a need for more medical technologists in US healthcare?

Three Causes of the US Shortage

A Decline in US Training Programs: One of the problems is that while there is a great need for more lab personnel, the number of  training programs is declining. There are 235 medical laboratory technician and scientist training programs in the US, a 7% drop from 2000. In addition, some states have no training programs.

An Aging Lab Workforce: Another cause for concern is the average age of the laboratory workforce, which has been increasing steadily over the past few years. At 43.7, the average age of certified medical technologists is slightly older than that of nurses (43.3). The laboratory personnel labor force is aging at a 78 percent faster rate than the entire US labor market.

Increased Demand for Laboratory Services: According to Market Research Future, "Clinical Laboratory Test Market - Forecast Until 2030," the market size was valued at USD 189 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 325 billion by 2030. The advent of biotech-based tests and increased routine medical tests like diabetes and blood tests fuel the growth. Further, as the average age of MTs increases, so does the American population, leading to increased demand for lab services.

Internationally-Educated MTs Can Benefit from the US Shortfall

While many long-range solutions to the MT shortage are proposed, the Forbes article calls out that one interim solution might be recruiting foreign laboratory professionals and bringing them up to equivalency in US practices and laws where necessary.

Opportunities for MTs with Health Carousel International

Health Carousel International is working to help alleviate our clients' medical technologist workforce shortages across the USA. Over the last 20 years, we have yet ever to see such demand. As a result, clients across the US are asking us to provide them with hundreds of MTs to cover their vacancies.

More information on the support and services we provide free of charge is available on our PassportUSA program website.

Begin Your American Dream

We hope to partner with you on achieving your dream of living in and working as a medical technologist in the USA, where unprecedented opportunities await!

To get started, please register for our PassportUSA program, then be on the lookout for a follow-up email requesting additional information regarding your qualifications.

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