ASCP Publishes Results of 2024 Vacancy Survey

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) recently published the results of its 2024 Vacancy Survey, a comprehensive report that sheds light on the state of the clinical laboratory workforce across the United States. The findings are available in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

The survey found that overall vacancy rates declined compared with 2022 but remain above pre–COVID-19 levels. Anatomic pathology departments had the highest overall vacancy rate (28.5%), while cytogenetics had the lowest (7.7%). Among supervisory roles, anatomic pathology also had the highest vacancy rate (27.5%), and phlebotomy had the lowest (0%). For non-supervisory staff, the highest vacancy was in anatomic pathology (28.6%) and the lowest in cytogenetics (6.7%).

The report also includes data on AI in the lab, anticipated retirements, vacancy rates in different regions of the U.S. and employee recruitment and retention.

ASCP has conducted the survey every two years since 1988 to estimate the vacancy rates within medical laboratory departments in the U.S. The 2024 report includes 1,027 responses from management-level and human resources staff, representing more than 18,626 employees in the U.S. It is a primary source of information for academic, government and industry labor analysts.