A shortage of physical therapists will greatly impact demand over the next twelve years
A new workforce forecast from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), accompanied by a study in Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal, paints a clear and concerning picture of the future of physical therapy in the U.S. While the physical therapy profession continues to grow, demand for services is set to increase even faster, creating persistent gaps that threaten patient care and accessibility.
Forecast Through 2037
In 2022, the APTA’s microsimulation model estimated approximately 233,890 full‑time physical therapists in the US. However, demand already outpaces supply by 12,070 FTEs, a shortfall of 5.2% and this was before the current surge in healthcare needs. On the frontlines, this imbalance shows: about 72% of PTs report being at capacity or unable to meet local demand. Cancer patients and those needing specialized post‑surgical care are facing waits of 9 to 27 days.
The future trend looks even more challenging. By 2037, demand for physical therapists is projected to grow by 14.7%, while population growth lags at 8%. This means required FTEs will reach 282,230, while supply will grow to only 273,070, maintaining a 3.3% shortfall. This is a shortage of 9,120 physical therapists, even in the best-case baseline scenario.
Physical therapy is a critical line of defense against chronic pain, mobility issues, post‑injury recovery, and preventative health. Ensuring there are enough therapists isn’t just a workforce issue it’s a public health imperative.
Current students graduating from undergraduate studies have bright futures in physical therapy and getting into a physical therapy graduate program.
