Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow much faster than the average rate for all other occupations, according to data from the Bureau of Labor statistics.
Here are seven notes on the hygienist workforce:
1. Employment of dental hygienists is projected to grow by 8% between now and 2035, according to the latest BLS data.
2. The BLS predicted there will be an average of about 15,000 openings for hygienists each year over the next decade, driven by the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.
3. The dental industry is expected to see improvements in hygiene staffing as job satisfaction and retention rates are on the rise, according to Dentalpost’s 2026 Dental Salary Survey Report.
4. Dentalpost reported that 27% of hygienists are considering changing jobs, driven primarily by higher pay, better benefits and healthier work environments.
5. Eight-two percent of hygienists who switched jobs in the last year said the change met their goals.
6. Twenty-seven percent of hygienists also plan to retire in the next five years.
7. Dental hygiene programs have seen a 15% increase in total enrollment since 2021, according to new data from the American Dental Association.
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