Data released by Jefferies on Tuesday show that demand for temporary nursing personnel increased 3.6% week-over-week, building on a 3.2% rise the previous week. The lift was driven by stronger movement in nursing roles relative to allied health positions, according to the Aya Travel RN & Allied Health Demand Index.
Within the Aya index, the nursing component climbed 4.4% week-over-week, while the allied component recorded a 2.6% week-over-week gain. Those shifts sit alongside a modest move in bill rates: the JEF Bill Rate Index, which aggregates pay rates from multiple sources, rose 0.1% week-over-week to about $2,218 per week after a 0.4% increase the prior week.
The JEF Bill Rate Index also contains forward quarter projections. It shows a flat quarter-over-quarter change of 0.0% for the second quarter of 2026 and a projected decline of 0.3% quarter-over-quarter for the third quarter of 2026.
Recruiting-platform-level data were mixed. Aya Healthcare reported total jobs available increased 1.0% week-over-week to 40,043. By contrast, data from Vivian indicated week-over-week declines in travel job availability, with registered nurse listings down 3.6% and allied health positions down 5.8%.
The broader Aya Index has trended higher in recent months, rising 24% over the past 12 weeks and reaching its highest reading since December 9, 2025. Despite that recent run, the index remains about 29% below pre-COVID levels.
On the corporate front, AMN Healthcare Services reported during its first quarter 2026 earnings call that demand for nurse and allied roles was roughly flat year-over-year. The company also provided second quarter guidance for nurse and allied revenue that, when excluding strike-related activity, implies a sequential decrease.
Taken together, the metrics depict a staffing market with near-term demand gains concentrated in nursing, modest upward pressure on bill rates, and divergent platform-level job availability. Forward-looking bill rate projections suggest stabilization in the near term followed by a modest decline into the third quarter of 2026.
Key points
- Temporary nursing demand rose 3.6% week-over-week; the prior week saw a 3.2% increase.
- The Aya nursing component grew 4.4% week-over-week versus a 2.6% rise in allied health; the JEF Bill Rate Index increased 0.1% to approximately $2,218 per week.
- Aya-reported job listings were up 1.0% to 40,043, while Vivian reported declines in RN and allied travel job availability.
Risks and uncertainties
- Bill rate projections show a potential decline of 0.3% quarter-over-quarter in Q3 2026, which could pressure staffing revenue - impacting healthcare staffing firms and provider labor costs.
- Divergent platform data on job availability introduces uncertainty about the persistence of demand gains - affecting hospital staffing operations and temporary workforce planning.
- AMN's guidance implies sequential revenue pressure for nurse and allied lines excluding strike activity, creating potential near-term earnings risk for staffing providers.