An estimated 4,200 GPs are due to qualify and join the GP jobs market, the Royal College of GPs reports.
Some 47% more GPs will complete clinical training (CCT) this year compared with 2019.
The outlook is poor for newly-qualified GPs, almost all of whom will be up against thousands of under- and unemployed sessional GPs with experience.
The majority of GPs began to locum with no experience of substantive roles, an NASGP poll revealed earlier this summer.
GPs who have qualified within the last two years and have never held a substantive post may qualify to apply for salaried roles funded through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). But many have warned that salaries for these roles fall below market rates.
Earlier this month the General Practitioners’ Committee for England, part of the British Medical Association, warned that GPs could be balloted for industrial action unless the profession receives emergency funding for underemployed GPs.
Dr Richard Fieldhouse, NASGP chair, said: “The news of over 4,000 new GPs qualifying this year, a significant rise since 2019, highlights mounting pressures on our profession. My heart goes out to these newly qualified colleagues, entering a job market already saturated with experienced, yet under or unemployed, sessional GPs. It’s incredibly challenging to start a career facing such competition, especially with their lack of experience and demoralising ARRS-funded salaries.
“This situation also weighs heavily on our experienced members, who undoubtedly empathise with their less experienced counterparts, yet face increasing competition for work.
“Urgent action is clearly needed, and I wholeheartedly support the GPC’s demands for emergency funding to alleviate GP under and unemployment and for ARRS funding to go directly to practices. The September 18 deadline for these critical demands must be met to avert further crisis, ensuring our skilled workforce can continue to serve patients effectively.”
