There will always be a need for healthcare services. Whenever we are sick, injured, or struggling (either physically or mentally), we turn to healthcare professionals for a solution. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread throughout the world, we relied on our healthcare professionals and researchers to see us through. There is no questioning the value we place on our healthcare system and, in turn, the job security and the respect that comes along with a healthcare career.
If you are considering a future in healthcare, you can rest assured the job outlook is bright. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry is expected to add 2.6 million new jobs between 2020 and 2030. This is more jobs than any other occupational group will add during this decade, and makes healthcare the fastest growing career sector the United States.
The healthcare job outlook is strong, with employment of healthcare professionals expected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030.
For aspiring healthcare professionals, this mean now is the time to get started in the field.
What is Contributing to the Growing Healthcare Job Outlook?
The driving factor behind healthcare’s job outlook is the growing number of elderly people in the United States. The Baby Boomer population is reaching retirement age at record-breaking numbers. In fact, by 2034, the number of seniors is expected to exceed the number of children in the United States for the first-time in history. What does this mean for healthcare jobs, exactly?
The rising number of elderly people will contribute to a rising demand for healthcare services. This is because, as people age, they require more medical attention and support to live out their daily lives. With aging comes a gradual decrease of physical and mental capacity, combined with a higher risk of disease. Healthcare professionals will be needed to step up, more than ever, to treat conditions like dementia, diabetes, hearing loss, cataracts, osteoarthritis, COPD, and other chronic diseases that affect older persons. Additionally, professionals will be needed in long-term and home healthcare settings to help elderly patients facing geriatric syndromes who cannot live alone.
In addition to the increased demand for healthcare services among elderly patients, there will also be a large number of older professionals retiring from the field. As Baby Boomers retire from their healthcare occupations, job openings will become available and new frontrunners will be needed to step in. As an example, it is expected that more than one million RNs will retire from the nursing workforce by the year 2030, leading to incredibly bright job outlook for nurses.
There is no questioning the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic is also playing a role in the greater healthcare career outlook. We learned from this crisis the importance of our healthcare professionals. We learned that epidemics can spread quickly, can be all-consuming, and that the 20.5 million healthcare employees in the United States today are just a fraction of the number of providers and practitioners we need in the years to come. From the COVID-19 pandemic will come a greater need for mental healthcare services, as well as a greater focus on preventive care. Additionally, the pandemic will (and has already) stimulated the increase in research, vaccines, and technology to combat future crises. This, in turn, will enhance the healthcare job outlook as we know it – and contribute to the number of professionals needed in this ever-important field.
What is the Job Outlook for Different Healthcare Careers?
All facets of healthcare will be calling for qualified professionals. However, certain fields and specializations are experiencing more promising job outlooks. Below, you can explore some of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations and the job outlooks for each.
- Nurse Practitioners will experience a job outlook of 52% between 2020 and 2030, with 114,900 jobs getting added to the field across the U.S.
- Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTAs) will see a job outlook of 36% in the next decade, with 15,600 new jobs being added to the field.
- Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides will see a similar job outlook of 33% from 2020 to 2030, with a notable 1.1 million new jobs being added in the U.S.
- Medical Assistants will also experience a strong job outlook, with employment expected to grow 18% between 2020 and 2030, and 132,600 jobs added to the field.
- Respiratory Therapist (RT) employment will increase significantly, about 23%, between 2020 and 2030. This will translate to over 135,000 new RT jobs.
- Dental Hygienists are projected to have a job outlook of 11% in the next ten years, with 23,100 new jobs being added to the field.
- Clinical Laboratory Technicians will see a similar rate of growth, with a job outlook of 11% and 36,500 jobs being added in the United States.
- EMTs and Paramedics will also increase in demand, with an 11% job outlook over the next decade, and 28,600 positions getting added across the U.S.
- Registered Nurses (RNs), as we’ve seen in previous years, will continue to see growth with a job outlook of 9% and 276,800 new nursing job openings becoming available.
All of the above healthcare careers are growing at a rate faster than the average for all occupations in the United States. All of the above data was collected from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Launching a Growing Career in Healthcare
The statistics noted above are just the beginning of a strong and steady job outlook for healthcare professionals. These high employment rates also indicate a strong and steady career outlook for you.
Because of its growing significance, the healthcare field is becoming more competitive for job applicants looking to land a great career. To get ahead, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics typically recommends a form of postsecondary education for candidates, with an associate or bachelor’s degree being the standard for many healthcare occupations today.
We agree. As a career-focused university and leading provider of healthcare education in Connecticut, Goodwin University is in touch with healthcare employers state-wide. In fact, our healthcare programs are centered around what these very employers are looking for in job candidates: a balance of analytical, interpersonal, and technical skills; an apt for critical thinking and leadership; a natural compassion for others; a mix of classroom discovery, hands-on training, and clinical laboratory experience – the very components of our healthcare classroom curriculums.
If you would like to take the next step pursuing a healthcare career, and enjoy unwavering job security in the field, know that there are many degree paths to get you there. From hospital jobs to mental health facilities, nursing homes to diagnostic laboratories, job opportunities for aspiring medical professionals like you are flourishing in all different sectors of the industry. At Goodwin University, you can take specific, skills-centric courses that will lead you right to some of the fast-growing healthcare careers today.
Whether you are a seasoned health professional or just beginning your career in the healthcare field, there is a place for you at Goodwin. Advance your skill set and your career path by calling us today at 800-889-3282. You may also visit us online to learn more.
Goodwin University is a nonprofit institution of higher education and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), formerly known as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Goodwin University was founded in 1999, with the goal of serving a diverse student population with career-focused degree programs that lead to strong employment outcomes.