Now that economic growth is on a steady incline, there is another trend that is quickly gaining speed: the number of domestic migrations to Southern states. This is a demographic shift that came to a halt during the recession, but recent census data shows this trend is accelerating back to its pre-recession pace— with Sun Belt states such as Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia attracting a large portion of domestic migrants from the North for a variety of reasons including: lower taxes, attractive housing prices, new jobs, and a lower cost of living.

Today, this region is almost as populous as the Northeast and Midwest combined. With trends suggesting that the South is becoming a booming center of economic growth, the number of domestic migrations is only expected to grow— ultimately, giving way to a greater demand for health services.

“As these southern cities and suburban areas have become more densely populated, we’ve seen a number of new hospitals and outpatient facilities and clinics emerge,” says Steffanie Ngo-Hatchie, Director of The Execu|Search Group’s Physician Recruitment division, who manages our partnerships in this region. “While the demand for physicians is strong across the country, it is especially prominent in the Southeast. These new organizations need help meeting the increasing demand for care, and in turn, have created many exciting opportunities for physicians of all specialties that you may not find in other parts of the country.”

Whether you are looking for your first position after residency, or are simply interested in making a change, here are 3 reasons why you‘ll want to consider relocating to the South:

Higher Compensation: Compensation in the Southeast is typically higher due to the simple laws of supply and demand. “There is a significantly lower supply of physicians than there are jobs in this market,” explains Steffanie. “Since many major academic centers are located in the North, larger concentrations of physicians tend to stay there. Competition for jobs is much lower in the South, as a result, so salaries are typically more competitive.”

More Enticing Packages: On a related note, these medical facilities realize they need to offer enticing employment packages in order to attract physicians from other regions to their organization. According to Steffanie, many of her clients are doing this through tuition reimbursement, sign-on bonuses, and relocation packages.

Access To Major Healthcare Systems: As these new communities developed, so did the demand for more accessible healthcare. Recognizing this need, many major healthcare systems, such as Mount Sinai and the Mayo Clinic, have begun establishing flagships in the South and partnering with well-established organizations in the region. “The facilities, the quality of medical care, and the career opportunities all rival that of the Northeast,” says Steffanie. “These jobs really give you access to the best of the best.”