This brings me to my next point, PA marketability. The key equation for marketability is the number of jobs available divided by the number of midlevels available. It's the old supply-demand issue. In the past, midlevels have enjoyed a ratio greater than 1.0 nationwide. This prompted rising salaries and benefits, because the demand for midlevels was greater than the supply.
Current trends show the supply side increasing at a much higher rate than the demand side.
As midlevel programs proliferate, we will see more PAs and NPs competing for fewer jobs. This will not only reverse the supply-demand ratio, resulting in lower or more stable salaries, but will also increase the competition between job applicants. The problem is that the hospital administrators and business managers who are responsible for hiring probably don't know about our training. This is further complicated by the ugly specter of competition. We're not alone in the midlevel marketplace.