Healthcare staffing agencies are heading into 2026 with fresh momentum. However, new data from iCIMS shows that the main challenge is not finding talent, but moving applicants through the hiring process quickly enough.
The good news: Candidates are back
In January, more people applied for healthcare jobs. Applications for clinical roles rose by 7% from the previous month, and non-clinical jobs saw a 4% increase. After last November’s slowdown, this rebound shows renewed candidate interest.
Also, there were an average of 25 applicants per job opening in January, the highest in over a year. This gives staffing firms a larger pool of candidates and more chances to find the right fit for clients.
The challenge: Hiring hasn’t caught up
Even with more applicants, hiring numbers are still low. Clinical placements are 4% lower than last year, and non-clinical hiring is down by 9%. This shows that organizations are having trouble moving candidates through the process quickly.
This issue is clear in time-to-fill numbers, which have stayed at 38 to 44 days even with more applicants. The problem isn’t the number of candidates, but how quickly decisions are made.
More applicants but slower hiring show that better automation is needed for candidate review and interview scheduling. Staffing firms that audit their processes for delays, give recruiters better tools, and set clear response time goals can turn today’s strong candidate interest into steady growth in placements.
