New Workforce Projections Forecast Physical Therapist Shortages Through 2037 [Video]

The American Physical Therapy Association: As America ages, physical therapy supply may struggle to meet growing demand.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The American Physical Therapy Association has released a new workforce report highlighting the potential for ongoing shortages in the physical therapist workforce through 2037. The “APTA Supply and Demand Forecast 2022-2037” outlines research findings that reveal that these shortages could significantly affect patient access to timely care without strategic interventions.

APTA’s report published alongside a study in PTJ: Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, “Current and Projected Future Supply and Demand for Physical Therapists from 2022 to 2037: A New Approach Using Microsimulation” forecasts a fluctuating shortfall in physical therapist supply relative to demand for the next 12 years. APTA worked with leading health care workforce researchers to generate these estimates, providing valuable insights into the current and future state of the physical therapist workforce.

“APTA’s report of …