{"id":8248,"date":"2021-01-15T16:09:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-15T21:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/?p=8248"},"modified":"2024-12-16T17:16:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T22:16:52","slug":"why-pursue-a-health-career-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodwin.edu\/enews\/why-pursue-a-health-career-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Pursue a Health Career in 2021?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we enter 2021, many of us do not want to look back on the year we’ve left behind. A global pandemic shook the world and took the healthcare field by storm. Many of us are now looking ahead, including current professionals and future students considering their next career move.<\/p>\n

As hard as 2020 was, many of us now recognize the insurmountable value of health professionals. The 18 million healthcare professionals<\/a> that work in this country have saved lives, researched and developed treatments, and helped to create a vaccine against COVID-19. On top of this, healthcare is considered one of the best<\/em><\/strong> industries<\/em><\/strong> to work in today \u2013 filling 46 of U.S. News\u2019 100 Best Jobs of 2020.<\/p>\n

Whether you are looking to make a career change or simply looking to make a difference, 2021 may just be the time to do so. If your life has been forever changed by the pandemic, and you want your life\u2019s work to have a real impact, you may be thinking about a career in healthcare, too. But you still may be asking yourself, \u201cWhy pursue a health career?\u201d Read on as we explore the top reasons to pursue a health-related career in 2021.<\/p>\n

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  1. A Bright Outlook<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It\u2019s no secret that healthcare is one of the largest job industries in the U.S. \u2013 and the U.S. Bureau of Statistics<\/a> (BLS) expects that it will only grow more. Employment of healthcare professionals is expected to grow 15 percent over the next several years, with 2.4 million new jobs entering the mix by 2029. This is more jobs than any other field today, and it is mainly due to an increased demand for healthcare services.\u00a0 As the baby boomer population continues to age, the demand for healthcare among our senior population will reach record numbers.<\/p>\n

    In addition, the pandemic has increased the need for more healthcare workers. Take mental health, for example. The nation\u2019s mental health was put to the test in 2020. From quarantining and social distancing to social injustices and political turmoil, we faced more challenges in one year than many face in a lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), 40 percent<\/strong> of adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse in June of 2020. This underlines the need for more clinical professionals in the field.<\/p>\n

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    1. Better Pay<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Healthcare is one of the highest-paying industries today. In fact, it dominates U.S. News\u2019 list of the best paying jobs in 2020<\/a>. In 2019, the median pay for registered nurses was $73,300 per year. The median annual wage for all healthcare practitioners and technical health occupations (from physicians to dental hygienists) was $68,190<\/strong> annually. These figures are considerably higher than the median annual wage for all occupations, of $39,810.<\/p>\n

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      1. A Diverse Choice<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Unless you have a clear-cut idea of what you want to do with your future, it can be hard to decide the exact career you crave. The beauty of the healthcare industry is the amount of variety that comes with it. You may pursue a degree program that leads you to becoming an occupational therapy assistant, a healthcare administrator, a community health educator, or even a dental hygienist.<\/p>\n

        Check out this list of growing healthcare careers<\/a> from the BLS. Or, take a look at some of the healthcare career options available through Goodwin University:<\/p>\n