Three U.S. Healthcare Talent Acquisition Trends in 2023
Our 2023 U.S. Healthcare Spotlight Report presents perspectives from the responses of healthcare professionals, taken from our annual survey. We cover key trends direct from talent acquisition teams in the healthcare industry, including growth predictions, variations in recruitment methods, and remote working.
The healthcare landscape has been evolving rapidly in recent years, with healthcare organizations having to adapt accordingly. The pandemic prompted a massive demand for healthcare workers, followed by staff shortages, leading to talent acquisition challenges. Now the situation is improving, and the industry is showing a positive outlook with growth predicted in 2023. As we enter this transformative period, the recruitment landscape is improving and healthcare organizations need to adjust their hiring strategies.
HireRight’s 16th Annual Benchmark Survey, conducted early in 2023, gathered insights from talent, risk and human resource professionals worldwide. Our 2023 U.S. Healthcare Spotlight Report presents perspectives from the responses of healthcare professionals, taken from our annual survey. Here, we cover key trends direct from talent acquisition teams in the healthcare industry, including growth predictions, variations in recruitment methods, and the importance of a background screening program.
1. Healthcare organizations are expected to experience strong growth in 2023
Despite a significant drop in hiring throughout 2020, the global healthcare industry showed strong signs of recovery last year, with a positive trajectory in hiring for 2023. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by June 2022, every sector within the healthcare industry reported an increase in hires, and they predict that this growth will outpace that of other industries across the board.
According to our U.S. Healthcare Report, an astonishing 48% of respondents reported that they expect their workforce to increase. This is a 41 percent increase over 2022, indicating an optimistic outlook for healthcare workforce stability and growth. Any large increases in workforce size mean that healthcare organizations need to prioritize their hiring efforts, including recruitment tactics and methods.
2. Changes in recruitment methods
In today's job market, job seekers are more discerning than ever before. They are using a variety of online tools to thoroughly evaluate potential employers, and they are looking for more than just compensation and benefits. In 2022, recruiters observed a significant shift in candidate motivations and preferences, with many job seekers now prioritizing factors such as company culture, work-life balance, and opportunities for professional development.
As candidates seek new ways to search for jobs and reevaluate their needs, healthcare organizations are using a variety of strategies to attract qualified candidates. These include offering competitive salaries, flexible work arrangements, and building a strong employer brand. They are also investing in recruitment marketing campaigns, partnerships with educational institutions, and employee referral programs. Notably, the use of incentives has increased significantly, from 52% last year to 82% in this year’s survey responses.
How are employers finding talent? Survey respondents reported that job boards (55%) and referrals (50%) will remain the most effective recruitment channels for attracting talent in 2023. Additionally, social media (45%) is a recruitment channel that employers will be utilizing more in 2023.
3. Background screening remains essential
Pre-employment screening is essential for verifying qualifications and protecting patients, employees, and employers from potential negligence in the healthcare industry. According to HireRight’s survey respondents, the most common checks conducted by U.S. healthcare employers are criminal record checks, identity verification, and drug/alcohol testing.
A thorough employment screening program can help healthcare organizations select qualified candidates, fostering a safer and higher-quality workforce. Regulatory requirements, industry standards, and patient risk-factors contribute to the importance of screening in the industry, making screening programs conducted by healthcare employers among the most comprehensive across North America.
Healthcare organizations often consider several factors when evaluating screening providers. These may include the screening provider’s expertise and experience in the industry, their understanding of industry specific regulations and compliance requirements, how comprehensive their screening services are, turnaround times for results, the accuracy and reliability of their reports, and their commitment to data security and confidentiality.
The HireRight’s 2023 U.S. Healthcare Spotlight Report provides valuable insights into the challenges facing the healthcare industry and how organizations are addressing them. By using some of the recruiting, and screening tactics outlined in the report, companies can gain an advantage in the race to attract top talent.
