Some careers are growing, and others are declining. When you’re considering a career, it’s helpful to know which way the job numbers are going. If you are considering a healthcare career, you’ll be happy to know that the field is experiencing job growth.
Range of occupations
There are many separate careers within the healthcare industry. They cover a wide range of functions, salaries, and educational requirements. Some professions require an associate’s degree, others require a bachelor’s or a master’s, and some require a doctoral or professional degree. For example, a nuclear medicine technologist needs an associate’s degree, a nurse anesthetist needs a master’s degree, and a physician needs a doctoral or professional degree.
In many healthcare careers, that job growth means openings are outpacing the number of skilled applicants. For example, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29% through 2026, employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 25% through 2026, and employment of radiologic and MRI technologists is projected to grow 13% through 2026.
This projected job growth includes some jobs that are emerging now, based on new technology, and some that do not even exist yet. These jobs include reconstructive surgery 3D printing specialist; this role will specialize in generating tissue using cells and 3D printing. Another new role, precision medicine compounding pharmacist, will oversee robots that will create custom medication based on patients’ genetics and other specific factors.
Reasons for growth
Why are healthcare jobs growing so rapidly? One of the main reasons is that the population is aging. For example, by 2025, one-quarter of the workforce will be older than 55. There are ramifications of this: an aging country needs more care – and that means more workers are needed to provide that care.
There’s another reason for the growth: healthcare is largely immune to the two most destabilizing forces for labor in the last generation: globalization and automation. People still need care, and they need it in their own communities. Facilities need healthcare workers to provide that care, so jobs in healthcare continue to grow.
That care is provided in a variety of facilities, and that’s why jobs have grown in a variety of facilities. 300,000 jobs were created in healthcare in 2017; 206,000 were in ambulatory care, 76,000 in hospitals, and 18,000 in nursing and residential care.
Is a healthcare career for you?
At 365 Healthcare Staffing Services, we specialize in the recruitment and placement of healthcare professionals in per diem, travel, and permanent assignments in healthcare facilities across the country. Are you considering a career in healthcare? If so, we’ll be here when you’re ready to find the perfect assignment. We look forward to talking with you; we’re at 310.436.3650, and we’ll be waiting for your call.
