Markets – ABA Service Providers (updated May 2025)

Overview

This report analyzes LinkedIn staffing trends and job postings for the largest ABA service providers. Data has been collected from December 2024 through May 2025, tracking LinkedIn-reported staff counts and open positions. Information on the number of states served is sourced from company websites and public disclosures.

While LinkedIn doesn’t capture the full ABA workforce—especially among direct care staff—it remains a valuable directional indicator of hiring momentum and organizational strategy.

As providers face reimbursement pressures, staffing constraints, and operational complexity, LinkedIn-based data offers a helpful lens on growth strategy, M&A posture, and geographic footprint.

This approach has limitations, and I continue to welcome feedback to refine the methodology.

Top 20 ABA Service Providers

Here are the 20 largest ABA service providers based on LinkedIn staffing data:

• Action Behavior Centers

• Stepping Stones

• Positive Behavior Supports

• HopeBridge

• Blue Sprig

• Centria

• ACES

• Autism Learning Partners

• CARD

• ABS for Kids

• Learn

• Proud Moments

• Behavioral Innovations

• Attain ABA

• Cortica

• Behavior Frontiers

• Butterfly Effects

• 360 Behavioral Health

• Center for Social Dynamics

• Kyo

These providers represent a significant portion of the ABA industry’s workforce and hiring activity.

Key Findings on ABA Provider Workforce Trends

1. Aggregate ABA Provider Staffing Growth
From April to May 2025, LinkedIn-reported staffing among the top 20 providers rose 1.46%. While this growth is consistent, it reflects a plateau from earlier Q1 gains, likely driven by seasonality and increased reimbursement scrutiny.

2. Aggregate ABA Provider Hiring Growth
Hiring activity (based on job postings) rose 3.45%, showing renewed hiring momentum entering the summer months. However, hiring remains highly concentrated among a few major providers—primarily Centria, Action Behavior Centers, and HopeBridge.

Observations & Market Insights

📍 State Expansion: Rare but Not Absent
Most top providers did not enter new states—but limited expansion was observed from organizations like Stepping Stones. Nonetheless, broad geographic growth remains the exception, not the rule.

📊 Rankings Hold Firm
Despite modest staffing growth, the top 20 rankings remain virtually unchanged, reinforcing a trend of market concentration and stability at the top.

💰 Medicaid Pressure Mounts
Reimbursement audits and concerns over funding sustainability are pushing many organizations to focus on utilization and efficiency rather than pure headcount growth.

🌞 Summer Seasonality in Focus
With school schedules shifting, staffing patterns may become more fluid. Providers are likely adapting workflows and hours to accommodate summer-driven demand changes.

🔁 M&A: Signs of Life, but No Giants Yet
While Q1 was largely quiet for provider M&A, May saw activity from mid-sized operators. For example, Alongside ABA, now a top-100-sized provider, completed another acquisition—underscoring investor interest in regional platforms. However, no meaningful consolidation among top 20 providers occurred this month.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to compare your organization’s metrics, request a custom provider snapshot, or explore emerging platform strategies, I’d be happy to help.

I welcome your feedback and look forward to continuing to track how the ABA provider market evolves in the months ahead.