The 2024 vacancy rate for radiation therapists increased to 13.6% while the vacancy rate for medical dosimetrists decreased to 9.6%, according to the ASRT Radiation Therapy Workplace and Staffing Survey. This is compared to a 10.7% vacancy rate for radiation therapists and 11.4% for medical dosimetrists in 2022.

Vacancy rates represent the number of unfilled positions that are actively being recruited. The increase in vacancy rates in medical imaging and radiation therapy captured in ASRT’s staffing surveys has served as a catalyst for the Society to work with peer organizations to develop strategies to address the current workforce shortage.

"In February 2024, ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology co-hosted the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, which included representatives from 15 organizations spanning the profession. From this meeting, sponsoring organizations are actively collaborating to address workforce shortages by 1) articulating career pathways, 2) creating a pipeline from formal education programs to the workplace and 3) expanding opportunities for education and training that meets the emerging needs of students. Through this work, ASRT is taking steps to advocate for the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to support workforce and staffing," said Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), executive vice president of member engagement.

The survey also tracks longitudinal changes in staffing levels in radiation therapy and medical dosimetry. For example, the average number of full-time equivalent radiation therapist positions budgeted at each facility rose from 7.3 in 2022 to 8.3 in 2024.

Overall, the average number of FTE therapists budgeted per facility has increased by 2.3 during a 20-year period — from 6.0 in 2004 to 8.3 in 2024. The number of FTE dosimetrist positions budgeted per facility rose from 2.4 in 2022 to 2.7 in 2024. Overall, the number of FTE dosimetrists budgeted per facility has increased by 1.1 during a 20-year period — from 1.6 in 2004 to 2.7 in 2024.

ASRT emailed the biennial survey in May 2024 to 22,892 radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists. At the close of the survey in June 2024, 645 respondents from all U.S. states, except Montana, had submitted completed questionnaires for a response rate of 2.8%.