In Alaska, the demand for healthcare workers is really high and it is affecting more than just hospitals, it has a ripple effect that reaches workers who have to travel in and out for work. Alaska’s healthcare system needs thousands of new workers every single year just to keep up with current staffing levels and growing service demands. A 2025 workforce report showed the state needs over 9,400 new healthcare workers annually, including a big chunk of registered nurses, but the number of graduates and trained workers being produced locally is far fewer than what’s needed.
Because there aren’t enough locally trained nurses and other healthcare professionals, many facilities have to bring in workers from outside the state. For example, in recent years a large share of nurses working in Alaska came from elsewhere, and in some areas close to half of the nurses weren’t permanent residents. This kind of reliance on out-of-state staff helps fill gaps in care, but it also shows how tight the labor market really is.
The broader workforce shortage means that any delay in getting medical clearance for a fly-in/fly-out worker can create serious problems. If a worker’s health evaluation is slow or held up because doctors or clinics are hard to access in remote areas, that employee might miss crucial workdays. In a place where healthcare job openings are already so high, this kind of delay doesn’t just slow down one person’s start, it can push back entire schedules, delay projects, and reduce productivity.
And the challenges are only getting more visible. Reports note that Alaska competes with the rest of the country for a limited pool of healthcare workers, and projections suggest this shortage will remain one of the most significant in the United States. Without enough trained professionals, facilities often depend on temporary or travelling staff, but that workaround can be costly and doesn’t solve the root issue of not having enough permanent, cleared workers ready when they are needed.
Ultimately, when medical clearance is delayed, workers can’t start on time, employers lose valuable labor, and projects stall, all because there simply aren’t enough healthcare workers ready to step in immediately. That is the real cost behind delays in clearance in Alaska’s fly-in/fly-out workforce.
If your organization relies on timely medical clearances, having a dependable provider makes a real difference. MedPhysicals Plus supports Alaska’s workforce with efficient and professional medical evaluations. We have locations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, or Soldotna. You can reach us at (907) 561-7587 or email admin@medphysicalsplus.com to learn how we can help keep your team on schedule.
Sources:
Alaska is lacking in healthcare workers (2025)
Nonresident hiring in Alaska record
Demand for healthcare workers in Alaska