Omaha, NE (June 25, 2015) - The physical therapy field is growing steadily across the U.S. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy jobs are expected to grow 36 percent between 2012 and 2022, which is considered “much faster” than other industries.

There are many reasons why the demand for physical therapists is up, according to the BLS. For one, many chronic conditions that might require the need for physical therapists, such as diabetes and obesity, have been on the rise. During this time, advancements in medical technology have also allowed for an increase in outpatient surgeries, many of which require rehabilitative care. Lastly, due to recent health care reforms, more individuals have access to insurance that can cover these treatments.

A growing field with lots of potentialBecause of this high demand, there are certain areas of the country that are sought after by travel therapists more than others. We recently interviewed Erik Malmos, the team lead for the rehabilitation therapy division at Aureus Medical, about the demand for travel therapy jobs and how it is affecting certain states.

“There are many job options in physical therapy right now and it’s expected to climb over the next 10 years,” Malmos explained.

When asked about the top states with the highest demand for PTs right now, Malmos indicated that coastal regions will always be of particular interest. However, there were areas with the highest needs, which are located across the U.S. in states like Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Why the demand in certain states? Seasonality and the weather has a lot to do with it, according to Malmos.

“Weather plays a huge factor when determining one’s interests in travel,” he said. “For instance, Colorado is a desirable location in itself for PTs, but the census increases during the winter months because more people travel to Colorado for physical activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, etc. This increases the demand for physical therapists.”

During the spring and summer, some of the northern states also see an influx because there are a “wide variety of outdoor activities” that are easy to enjoy during that time of year in those locations.

Compared to recent years, there have been significant changes to health insurance, which is allowing more people to undergo elective surgeries. Malmos said that as a result, Aureus Medical is seeing an increase in available jobs and will continue to for some time.

Read the full article for more on PT jobs and high demand.

About Aureus Medical Group:

Aureus Medical Group is a national leader in healthcare staffing specializing in the successful placement of Nursing, Advanced Practice, Cardiopulmonary, Diagnostic Imaging, Medical Laboratory, Neurodiagnostics, Radiation Oncology, and Rehabilitation Therapy professionals, as well as Physicians, in hospitals and medical facilities nationwide.  With more than 30 years of experience, Aureus Medical offers a full range of staffing options, including national contract (travel), local contract, and direct hire.  Aureus Medical is the largest affiliate of Omaha-based C&A Industries, a leading provider of human capital management solutions for more than 45 years.