Visit Projecting Health Workforce Supply and Demand to access the most current projections data.
Attention: The projections on this page are out of date
The 21st Century Cures Act (PDF - 1009 KB) mandated that we study the nation’s mental health and substance abuse disorder workforce.
We used HRSA’s Health Workforce Simulation Model to do this.
How does this data help?
The data helps policymakers and other stakeholders make decisions about behavioral health workforce education, training, and delivery of care.
Why is this data important?
The nation’s mental health and substance use disorder providers are essential. Mental illness and substance use disorders are key factors in disability, mortality, and healthcare costs.
As the opioid crisis continues, we are analyzing the size and distribution of the behavioral health workforce, both today and in future years.
How do we determine future supply and demand?
We apply current patterns of health care use and delivery to future population estimates.
What are our key findings?
Fact Sheet: Behavioral Health Workforce Projections, 2017-2030 (PDF - 277 KB)
In 2017, we estimate that there were approximately:
- 33,650 adult psychiatrists
- 8,090 child and adolescent psychiatrists
- 10,450 nurse practitioners
- 1,550 physician assistants
- 91,440 psychologists
- 239,410 social workers
- 53,080 marriage and family therapists
- 91,340 addiction counselors
- 140,760 mental health counselors
- 116,080 school counselors
By 2030, we project these increases in supply of behavioral health workers:
- 20% decrease in supply of adult psychiatrists to 27,020
- 22% increase to 9,830 child & adolescent psychiatrists
- 62% increase to 16,900 nurse practitioners
- 86% increase to 2,890 physician assistants
- 13% increase to 103,440 psychologists
- 114% increase to 513,370 social workers
- 37% increase to 72,650 marriage & family therapists
- 3% increase to 93,880 addiction counselors
- 17% increase to 164,320 mental health counselors
- 88% increase to 218,130 school counselors
By 2030, we project these changes in demand for behavioral health workers:
- 3% increase in demand for adult psychiatrists (to 39,550)
- 1% decrease in demand for child & adolescent psychiatrists (to 9,190)
- 15% increase in demand for nurse practitioners (to 12,050)
- 8% increase in demand for physician assistants (to 1,670)
- 5% increase in demand for psychologists (to 95,600)
- 12% increase in demand for social workers (to 268,750)
- 9% increase in demand for marriage & family therapists (to 57,970)
- 15% increase in demand for addiction counselors (to 105,410)
- 13% increase in demand for mental health counselors (to 158,850)
- 3% increase in demand for school counselors (to 119,140)
Past behavioral health workforce reports
Estimates of new behavioral health graduates
2019
Estimates of New Behavioral Health Grads, 2016 – 2021 (PDF - 682 KB)
National estimates of behavioral health workforce
2016
National Projections of Supply and Demand for Selected Behavioral Health Practitioners: 2013-2025 (PDF - 451 KB)
State-level estimates of behavioral health workforce
2019
State-Level Estimates of Behavioral Health Workforce (PDF - 1 MB)
Addiction counselors
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Addiction counselors (PDF - 698 KB)
2016
Health Workforce Projections: Addiction Counselors (PDF - 149 KB)
Marriage and family therapists
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Marriage and family therapists (PDF - 699 KB)
Mental health and school counselors
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Mental health and school counselors (PDF - 804 KB)
2016
Health Workforce Projections: Mental Health Counselors (PDF - 149 KB)
Psychiatrists
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Psychiatrists (PDF - 729 KB)
Psychiatric technicians and psychiatric aides
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Psychiatric technicians and psychiatric aides (PDF - 709 KB)
Psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatric physician assistants
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychiatric physician assistants (PDF - 734 KB)
Psychologists
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Psychologists (PDF - 722 KB)
2016
Health Workforce Projections: Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists (PDF - 151 KB)
2015
Health Workforce Projections: Psychologists (PDF - 95 KB)
Social workers
2019
Health Workforce Projections: Social workers (PDF - 710 KB)
2016
Health Workforce Projections: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (PDF - 149 KB)
How to contact us
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