MSc Physio offer but worried about job market

I'm on a BSc healthcare course and I do somewhat share your thoughts. I've completed my first year, and often browsing NHS job listings out of curiosity. But when it comes to OT, I've heard of students at my Uni securing jobs in their 3rd year before they even qualify.
I guess it's all about keeping your options open post qualification and considering non-NHS positions as you mentioned.
Send me a DM if you'd like to discuss this more.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I've been offered a place on physiotherapy, not OT. I was discussing OT in my second reply because that's the course being compared in the article the first respondent talked about.
I think it's a bonus that there are lots of non NHS, non clinical opportunities available in physio. However, I'm very aware that they are likely to be a seller's market, so to speak. As more graduates continue to churn out of courses and there are more registrants than available posts in any sector.

CSP advice here https://www.csp.org.uk/networks/new-graduates/finding-your-first-job. The frustrating thing about the NHS is there is always huge unmet need in regard to recruitment…peaks and troughs are related to nhs budgets and recruitment freezes rather than anything else so it’s not like it’s over saturated in real terms. We all know how desperate the need both for physio for patients and recruitment and retention of staff actually is . Often once you are past band 5 there can be very little competition for senior posts depending on your specialisms. Physio and other allied health provision within the NHS actually saves money in the longer term by reducing needs so it’s incredibly frustrating. Personally I think graduates need to be highly flexible in terms of where and when they are looking for posts( not easy for mature students who may have family ties to an area but the uk has many areas where competition will be far less)…NHS jobs website doesn’t necessarily reflect the actual full range of jobs available, it’s sometimes about scouting out and getting in touch with individual trusts to see exactly when they do start their band 5 recruitments. In any 1 area there will be both secondary care and intermediate care/ community roles…the latter have increased their options for band 5 rotational posts over more recent years. Also try the charity sector, alternative care providers such as brain injury / neuro / learning disability/ elderly care providers, MOD (the forces use civilian physios as well as officer physios) etc.etc. We can but cross our fingers that the government will wake up and realise recruiting trained health care professionals from abroad is both unethical and illogical when they are paying to produce qualified graduates who then struggle to get training posts.

I have a place on a pre-reg MSc course, starting Sept, but I'm beginning to question whether it's the right thing. Not because of the content or because I don't want to be a physio, but I'm very concerned about the state of the job market for newly qualified healthcare professionals. I was hoping it would refresh a bit with the new tax year in April (new budgets) but that hasn't happened. It's across all junior clinical posts, Dr's, nurses, physios, OT, dietetics, radiographers etc.
Obviously, as physios there are opportunities to work outside of the NHS and clinical work is only one of the 4 pillars of practice but I can't lie, I am worried. Rotational experience as a NQ physio is a really useful base for us to build our careers and expand our knowledge, so we can branch off and specialise (making room for the next crop of b5's). Band 5 rotational posts are like hen's teeth now. What do we do? I know the official line is to get a job as a physio assistant and apply internally for b5 posts as they come up but seriously, that's not a great answer. It may help some but it doesn't address the real issue of a rapidly shrinking sector and an ever increasing pool of graduates.
Obviously, physios have the benefit of being able to work as stand alone self-employed clinicians (with the right insurances etc), so that's a plus compared to some other AHP & HCP roles which are tied to NHS or other organisations. However, NQ AHP just don't have the experience required to work safely and competently as a self-employed AHP, so it isn't an option for early career AHP.
Does anyone else share my concerns? I know a lot can change in 2 years but equally, I worry that I can see the problem clearly and yet am stubbornly going ahead anyway. Am I just going to train for an oversaturated job market?

Hey, I've just come across this post! You're deffo not alone in the concern.
I've graduated with a physio degree in 2025 in Manchester and have been aplying to B4 and B5 jobs as well as private and sports massage (did a postgraduate course) within 2 hours of my home for about a year now. I may truly be the problem lol, but application quotas are saturated so quickly, with some B5 roles getting taken down after less than 2 days of being up!
The idea we were sold about starting off with NHS B5 rotations is really not realistic and wished this was addressed in our lectures. Some advice about contining CPD post grad, or advice on whether to hold back on HCPC or CSP until we get a job would save some people hundreds of pounds at a time where they don't have much income.
I do have some friends that have managed to secure roles, and just hoping the climate gets better soon! Some of my placement tutors say they experienced similar hiring freezes, so hopefully we can enjoy the journey, keep going and it'll pay off 🙂
Do what you enjoy because there are options! But you're right, it's oversaturated at the moment.