In 2024, 68% of the U.S. population lived in counties where more than 25% of oncologists were nearing retirement age, according to a study published Oct. 7 in JCO Oncology Practice.
At the same time, racial and ethnic minority representation in the U.S. cancer physician workforce is projected to remain below the group’s U.S. population share over the next 35 years, according to another study published Oct. 11 in JCO Oncology Practice.
Here are seven things to know about the oncology workforce from the two studies:
- Between 2014 and 2024, the number of oncologists increased from 12,267 to 14,547, but decreased from 15.9 to 14.9 per 100,000 individuals aged 55 and older.
- Compared to 2014, 38 states had fewer oncologists per capita in 2024.
- While 89% of the U.S. population lived in counties with oncologists in 2024, 68% lived in counties where more than 25% of oncologists were nearing retirement age.
- Early-career oncologists were less likely to work in rural counties or in areas with higher rates of cancer mortality, smoking, obesity, social vulnerability, uninsurance and homes without broadband Internet access.
- Researchers defined the term “underrepresented in medicine” as inclusive of American Indian/Alaska Native; Black or African American; Hispanic, Latino or of Spanish origin; or Native-Hawaiian/Pacific-Islander cancer physicians.
- Of the 66,450 cancer physicians in 2020, 11.3% were URiM, compared to 31% of the U.S. population.
- URiM is projected to reach between 12.5% and 19.1% by 2060, compared with 43.2% of the U.S. population.
Read more about the aging oncology workforce here, and more about racial disparities in the oncology workforce here.
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