Psychiatrists

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for psychiatrists will grow much faster than the average for all careers through 2028. Opportunities for psychiatrists in private practice and salaried positions are good. Employment for physicians who work in outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers and in residential mental health and substance abuse facilities is expected to grow. Demand is great for child psychiatrists, and other specialties are also in short supply, especially in rural areas and public facilities.

A number of factors contribute to this shortage. Growing population and increasing life span add up to more people who need psychiatric care; rising incomes and the passage of the Affordable Health Care Act have enabled more people to afford treatment; and higher educational levels make more people aware of the importance of mental health care.

Psychiatrists are also needed as researchers to explore the causes of mental illness and develop new ways to treat it.