Top Healthcare Jobs Have High Growth Outlook Through 2022
In October 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that healthcare providers added 25,000 jobs.
- A career in healthcare appears to be a more available option, as according to a new CareerCast report it’s one sector in the job landscape with above-average hiring growth. Healthcare employment remained strong through the recession and has continued to grow this year, with unemployment falling to just 3.7 percent. In October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that healthcare providers added 25,000 jobs. Employment in ambulatory health care services rose by 19,000 and home health care services contributed 7,000 jobs. This report comes in addition to an indication of a 65 percent positive job growth outlook for the third quarter from HEALTHeCareers. Job openings for physicians, surgeons and nurses accounted for the largest percentage of open positions. The demand for nurses was the highest for the first time this quarter, but physicians and surgeons continue to account for the largest available opportunities. Over the past year, averages of 21,000 healthcare-related positions were added each month to the nation’s job landscape.
The top jobs in healthcare this year all have a high growth outlook and strong salaries. The top-three healthcare positions going into the year 2015 according the report are audiologists (projected growth of 34 percent by 2022; average annual salary of $69,720), dental hygienists (projected growth rate of 33 percent by 2022; average annual salary of $70,210), and dietitians ( projected growth of 21 percent by 2022; average annual salary of $55,240.
In 2012, there were 13,000 jobs available for audiologists, but by 2022 there is expected to be an additional 4,300 audiologist positions available. For dental hygienists, there were 192,800 in 2012 and another 64,200 are expected by 2022; for dietitians, there were 67,400 in 2012 and 14,200 more should be available in ten years.
Other top healthcare positions projected for 2015 included:
physical therapists: projected growth of 36 percent,
opticians and podiatrists: projected growth of 23 percent,
medical laboratory technicians, medical technologists: projected growth of 22 percent
physiologists: projected growth of 19 percent
pharmacists: projected growth of 14 percent
Many of these positions require either an associates or bachelor’s degree (e.g., medical technologist, dental hygienist). Others require residencies and apprenticeships after completing pharmacy school. This makes it no surprise that potential healthcare career candidates are investing in dual degree programs.
According to the BLS, job prospects across the entire healthcare sector are expected to grow through the next decade as more patients gain access to health insurance and providers add staff to meet the demand. The steady employment rate may also be in part related to the constant strive made within the field to make a positive impact on the people they help. The BLS projects that employers in health care will account for five million new hires by 2022.
