Question: What is the job outlook in the area of health?
From: Tara T. of Appleton, WI

Answer: If you are considering a career in health care, you may have many opportunities. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, healthcare was the largest industry in 2006. Healthcare is a round-the-clock industry and combines services of technology and people. In 2006, there were 14 million healthcare jobs. 13.6 million jobs were wage and salary positions and 438,000 were self-employed clinicians. 40% of the 13.6 million jobs were in hospitals, 21% were in nursing and residential facilities, and 16% were in physician offices. The Department of Labor predicts that healthcare will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry and that 7 out of the top 20 fastest growing occupations will be healthcare related. Healthcare jobs will be concentrated in larger states like California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Hospitals will be the slowest growing segment of healthcare and some hospitals have cut middle management. Rapid growth is expected for pharmacy techs and dental hygienists and aides. Home health aides should increase by 49%, medical assistants by 35%, physical therapy assistants by 32%, and physician assistants by 27%.

Sources cite several reasons for the expected growth in healthcare. As the population ages, there will be a greater demand for healthcare. There will be an increased need for home health care and nursing and residential care as life expectancy increases and children cannot care for parents. Medical group practices and integrated health systems will be larger and more complex which increases the need for office and administrative assistance. Also, the shift from inpatient to less expensive outpatient and home health care will contribute to increased staffing needs in those areas. Older workers will retire. Unfortunately, obesity-related health problems are even cited as a reason.

Submit a question to Dr. Russo