Future Looking Bright for Healthcare Professionals

With technology soaring and baby boomers retiring, there are sure to be more beeping gadgets, buzzing machines and whizzing widgets than ever before within the next ten years.

This is just part of the reason that the out that according the U.S. Labor Department, “13 of the 20 fastest-growing occupations between 2004 and 2014 are related to health care.”

Job Trends

With soaring technology, growing obesity and other health care concerns, and millions of baby boomers retiring comes the need for highly skilled health-care professionals, like doctors and specialists. Experts predict that many careers in the health-care field will be able to enjoy job security.

Among those at the top of the list include biomedical engineers, medical scientists, veterinary technicians and physical therapists. Before 2018 the industry as a whole is expected to grow at an alarming rate of 22%. In demand currently are:

1. Registered Nurses- the number of jobs expected for registered nurses has been projected to reach at least 580,000 by 2016. This is not counting the retiring baby boomers that will leave jobs empty.

2. Home Health Aides- with the projected number of retirees, it is no wonder that home health care has a projected growth of 27% in the coming years.

3. Medical Assistant- medical assistants and especially those who have received formal training and education is expected to generate another 148,000 jobs by 2016.

4. Pharmacy Technician- for much of the same reason as demand for home health aides increase, so will pharmacy technicians. As baby boomers retire to their homes, pharmacies are likely to experience an influx of orders. Much of the training for career may be done on the job which is also appealing to many who do not want to spend additional time and money furthering their education.

5. Medical Secretary- job opportunities in this field are expected to grow between 9 and 17% and for those who have the proper training even more possibilities may arise.

Education

Most of the jobs listed above do require extensive education and training. With the economy falling to pieces, financial security may be something worth considering even if a four year degree was not originally in your plans.