Will Locum Veterinary Jobs Continue to Grow in the UK?

Locum work has become a familiar part of the UK veterinary industry. For practices, it’s a handy way to cover gaps in the rota and keep teams running when permanent staff are away. And for veterinary professionals, it can mean having more freedom over when, where, and how they work.

But we’ve noticed a change in the veterinary workforce. More vets are entering the profession, recruitment pressures are beginning to ease in many areas, and the workforce shortages of a few years ago seem to be improving.

So, where does that leave locum vet jobs in 2026? And will demand continue to grow?

What Does the UK Veterinary Workforce Look Like in 2026 and Beyond?

The veterinary workforce is expected to increase substantially over the next decade.

RCVS workforce modelling projects that the number of vets working in clinical practice will increase by 56% between 2023 and 2035. For small animal vets specifically, the projected increase is 62%.

It’s easy to assume just by looking at the headline figures that there’ll be less need for veterinary locum jobs. But headcount alone doesn’t show the full picture.

The same modelling predicts that the number of full-time equivalent vets will grow by 42%, compared with 52% growth in the overall number of vets. Average FTE is also expected to fall from 0.85 in 2023 to 0.79 in 2035.

To put it simply, there may be more vets, but that doesn’t mean working capacity will increase at the same rate. So while overall recruitment pressures may be easing, not every practice is going to find recruitment easy.

Why Practices Will Still Need Locum Vets

Practices don’t only use locums because there aren’t enough vets in the country. There are plenty of everyday reasons a practice might need temporary support.

Some examples include:

• Covering maternity, paternity or other extended leave.
• Filling the gap between someone leaving and their replacement starting.
• Keeping the rota covered during busy holiday periods.
• Managing an unexpected increase in caseload.
• Bringing in extra support during particularly busy periods.

Then there’s also a big difference between having enough veterinary professionals nationally and having them where they’re actually needed.

In June 2026, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee concluded that workforce pressures are now less about an overall shortage of qualified vets and more about retention, distribution and getting people into particular roles. It highlighted persistent gaps in geographically isolated practices, public sector roles and other areas that are still difficult to recruit for.

That distinction matters because it shows that even as the veterinary workforce grows, individual practices can still struggle to fill their rotas. And when they do, locum vets can give them some much needed breathing room while they find a longer term solution.

More Vets Want Flexibility Too

There’s another side to the UK vet locum market, and that’s the people who are exclusively choosing to work that way.

The traditional permanent, full-time veterinary role isn’t for everybody. Some vets choose locum work because they want greater control over their work schedule. Other want to experience different practices and caseloads, fitting work around other commitments, or just having the freedom to choose when and where they work.

That fits into the wider change to what veterinary professionals expect from their careers. The 2026 EFRA report specifically highlighted the evolving expectations around working conditions, flexibility and career development as something the veterinary profession will need to adapt to.

And the RCVS projection for falling average FTE suggests that workforce growth won’t necessarily translate into everyone working more hours.

For some veterinary professionals, locum work could be a good way to build a career around those changing priorities.

What About Locum Veterinary Nurse Jobs?

It isn’t just vets who have the option to go locum. Locum veterinary nurse jobs can offer RVNs many of the same benefits, from greater flexibility to broader experience across different practices and clinical environments.

The long-term picture for veterinary nurses is slightly different, though. RCVS modelling predicts that the number of veterinary nurses on the Register could increase by 78% between 2023 and 2035. It also projects that VN supply could exceed current modelled demand.

That could make veterinary nurse locum jobs more competitive over time.

But that doesn’t remove the reasons practices need temporary nursing cover. Holidays, sickness, vacancies, parental leave and unexpected rota gaps will still happen, while emergency, referral, and other settings may have their own staffing requirements.

So, while the shape of the market could change, there will still be a place for RVNs who want the flexibility that locum work can offer.

Will Locum Vet Jobs Continue to Grow?

Probably, but we wouldn’t expect that growth to look the same everywhere.

The UK veterinary workforce is moving away from the acute shortages seen a few years ago. RCVS modelling shows that the gap between vet supply and demand should only continue to narrow, with supply in clinical practice projected to rise from 91% of demand in 2023 to almost 99% by 2035.

Overall, that’s good news for the profession, but it’s no indication that locum vet jobs are about to disappear. Practices will continue to deal with temporary staffing gaps, and some locations and disciplines will still remain harder to recruit for. That, combined with the fact that flexibility is becoming a greater priority to veterinary professionals, means locum opportunities will likely remain part of the market.

From how we see it, rather than locum work being a response to a national shortage, it may start to become an essential part of a more flexible veterinary workforce.

If you’re a locum vet or RVN, that might mean becoming more open about where you work, the types of practices you consider and the length of placements you take on. Locum vet rates can also vary by shift, location and experience, so it’s always worth looking at the opportunity as a whole package instead of just the rate alone.

Thinking about making the switch to locum? We’ve taken a closer look at the pros, cons and other considerations of locum veterinary work in 2026.

Or, if you already know locum work is for you, get in touch with our team today to discuss your next move.