Nurses and technicians make up the majority of the U.S. healthcare workforce, yet their voices are often overlooked. A new report from Incredible Health, the nation’s largest software and AI-powered career marketplace for permanent healthcare workers, brings their perspectives front and center. The 2025 State of U.S. Nurses & Technicians Report, the company’s sixth annual report, offers critical insight into trends impacting nurses and technicians today and how health systems can better support the healthcare professionals delivering frontline care.

For the first time since the company expanded its marketplace from nurses to the allied health professions, the report draws insights from both nurses and technicians, together representing the majority of U.S. healthcare workers, offering Incredible Health’s most comprehensive analysis yet. The company surveyed over 2,000 nurses and technicians and analyzed data from over 1 million users nationwide.

“This report isn’t just about workforce trends, it’s a blueprint for what’s next in healthcare,” said Iman Abuzeid, MD, CEO and co-founder of Incredible Health. “The future of care depends on how we support the healthcare workers delivering it.”

Technician crisis echoes 2021 nurse shortage

Technicians make up the second largest group of healthcare workers after nurses, serving as the backbone of imaging, surgical care, diagnostics, and other essential functions. However, much like the nursing crisis that dominated headlines in 2021, this year’s data reveals that technicians are nearing a breaking point.

Stretched thin and increasingly burned out, technicians are navigating rising patient demand and insufficient support:

71% say they are not fairly compensated
Nearly half (48%) struggle to meet basic financial needs, and 76% say it’s harder to find a job than in past years
25% of technicians rate their mental health as “very good”
28% are considering leaving their current roles by the end of the year
68% of surgical technologists report increased surgical volumes

The data paints a clear warning: the technician workforce is at a tipping point, with an urgent need for solutions to sustain both the workforce and patient care outcomes.

Political and economic strain hits the front lines

The challenges facing today’s healthcare workforce are not just experienced in the workplace; they’re deeply shaped by housing costs, the economy, and federal policy. The data shows these forces are directly influencing healthcare workers’ decisions, from job mobility to long-term career plans, adding pressure to an already stretched system:

88% of nurses and technicians anticipate that Medicaid and Medicare cuts will negatively impact health systems
63% of nurses believe the current political environment will affect their job or workplace
55% of nurses and 78% of technicians say the housing market and interest rates have limited their ability to consider roles in other cities
66% of nurses and technicians overall report that the macroeconomic climate has influenced their career choices or trajectory

These external stressors are no longer in the background – they’re influencing how, where, and whether healthcare professionals stay in the field.

A turning point for AI adoption in healthcare

Despite challenges, the report offers signs of hope, particularly when it comes to the evolving relationship between healthcare workers and technology. Compared to just a year ago, nurses’ attitudes toward AI have shifted significantly:

Only 38% of nurses believe AI will negatively impact their roles, down from 64% in 2024
85% want more training on how to use AI
Nurses are most optimistic about AI’s ability to: save time on administrative tasks (40%), increase process efficiency (36%), and improve technical training (34%)

Technicians are earlier in the adoption curve, with just 16% report using AI tools, but interest is rising. As AI becomes more accessible, more frontline workers are open to change, especially when it supports the quality of care.

What healthcare leaders can do now

The report offers insights for health systems looking to improve hiring and retention:

Expand offers for flexible scheduling and career development
Prioritize healthcare worker mental health and workplace safety
Provide ongoing training, especially around AI
Offer competitive, transparent pay

Incredible Health’s software and AI-enabled marketplace, free for nurses and technicians, is used by over 1 million US healthcare workers and over 1,500 healthcare employers, including hospitals, ASCs, and home health organizations. The company’s data shows that organizations using its permanent hiring marketplace reduce time-to-hire to under 20 days and save millions annually by reducing overtime, incentive pay, and reliance on contract labor.

“The future of healthcare hinges on how we support the healthcare workers delivering care,” said Abuzeid. “The good news is that healthcare employers have clear, actionable steps they can take to strengthen hiring and retention.”

For even more insights and data, please register for the upcoming Becker’s Hospital Review webinar here.

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