Recruiting CRNAs has never been more challenging, and the competition for top talent continues to grow. At Lokum App, we’ve built a feature that helps CRNAs set job alerts for the positions they truly want. By analyzing data from these alerts, we’re gaining real insights into the CRNA job market—insights that can help you stay ahead of trends and tailor your recruitment strategies accordingly.
In 2025, gaining clarity on supply and demand trends will be more critical than ever. Understanding where CRNAs are looking, what they want from their roles, and which job structures are in demand can give you a significant edge in your recruitment efforts.
Here’s a breakdown of what our data is revealing about CRNA preferences and how it can impact your recruitment strategy.
Top CRNA Job Market Trends You Should Know
📍 Key States in Demand
CRNAs are increasingly setting alerts for jobs in Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania—states with strong demand for anesthesia services and an appealing combination of CRNA population density and no state income tax (in some cases). However, competition is intensifying in these regions, particularly from Anesthesiologist Assistants (AAs). This shift could drive more CRNAs toward states with stronger independent practice protections.
What This Means for You: If you’re recruiting in these regions and you have opportunities with collaborative or autonomous models, you’ll need to stay ahead of demand and highlight the unique advantages of your opportunity to attract and retain CRNAs.
💼 Job Type Preferences
The rise in demand for 1099 contractor roles reflects a growing desire for flexibility and higher earnings potential among CRNAs. Younger CRNAs, in particular, are gravitating toward 1099 contracts rather than permanent positions with benefits—even when they are ready to offer full-time availability. Direct-hire roles are also seeing a slight increase in demand, signaling either a growing frustration with traditional 3rd party recruiting models or a need for better control of the work-finding process .
What This Means for You: Consider offering flexible work options and emphasizing the autonomy that comes with 1099 contracts. Highlighting this flexibility in your recruitment efforts can make your roles more appealing.
📑 Most Sought-After Job Opportunities
While there’s an increasing preference for flexible 1099 contracts, many CRNAs still value longer-term stability. Preferences for full-time 1099 contracts and job share models (e.g., 26 weeks on/off) suggest that CRNAs are seeking predictable schedules without the commitment of permanent employment. At Lokum, our customer success team works with employers to craft these types of offers to see success.
What This Means for You: If you’re offering shorter-term or shift-based opportunities, highlight the stability and predictability of your positions, as these are key selling points for CRNAs. Do you offer longer shifts that allow the CRNAs to work less days? That gives you an advantage. Are you willing to have your CRNAs work on/off schedules weeks at a time, that could be compelling to the right CRNA in this market.
🏥 Practice Model Preferences
CRNAs prefer autonomy, with CRNA-only practices topping the list of job alerts. Collaborative environments and supervision models are still popular, but medical direction ranked the lowest, signaling that CRNAs are seeking more control over their practice to avoid burnout. What This Means for You: If you’re operating under a medical direction model, it may be time to evaluate your structure. Offering more autonomy or shifting toward a collaborative practice could increase your appeal to candidates.
🩺 Specialty Preferences
The demand for cardiac anesthesia remains low, presenting a challenge for facilities that rely on filling these specialized roles.What This Means for You: If you have openings in cardiac anesthesia, you may need to offer additional incentives or flexibility to attract candidates. Consider how your compensation packages, work schedules, and workplace culture can appeal to CRNAs in this field.
How Lokum App Helps You Attract and Retain CRNA Talent
Leveraging Lokum App gives you the tools to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the competition. As we grow to be the premier modern marketplace for anesthesiology services, we are finally bridging the gap between talent and opportunity in anesthesiology.
What Lokum App’s Analytics Will Help You Do In the Future :
- 📊 Post jobs based on current demand trends: Position your openings in line with the preferences of CRNAs, making your job offers more attractive.
- 🔍 Get actionable insights: Use our data to adjust your recruitment strategies, from compensation packages to practice models, to meet CRNA needs and reduce turnover.
- 📈 Stay ahead of market shifts: Our alerts feature helps you understand where CRNAs are looking and what they want, enabling you to attract the right candidates before others.
Get Started Today
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to optimize your CRNA recruitment strategy and move this industry forward. Post your open positions on Lokum App and leverage our data-driven insights to streamline your hiring process.
Ready to attract the right CRNAs?