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What You Need to Know about Healthcare Jobs

By Lauren Stadler
Learning & Life Columnist
March 12, 2007

With over 13.5 million jobs in the United States, the healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. If you're looking for a hands-on job that makes people feel better, joining the healthcare industry could be a smart career move for you!

An Industry in Perfect Health

Between 2010 and 2030, the U.S. elderly population is expected to increase by 75%. That means that there will be over 69 million people over the age of 65. As the population ages, the demand for nurses, health aides and healthcare managers will skyrocket. By 2014, the healthcare industry is expected to increase by 27%, or about 3.6 million jobs. This is the perfect time to enter the industry because now, more than ever, healthcare professionals are in high demand.

Healthcare Work Environments

There are many occupations in the healthcare industry that vary in everything from location to how much education is required. The two largest employers in the healthcare industry are:

• Hospitals. Hospital employees include everything from surgeons to administrators. Hospitals are busy places that operate around the clock.
• Nursing and residential care facilities. These include rehabilitation centers, elderly and assisted living homes, and halfway houses. Nursing and residential facilities primarily employ nurses and nursing aides that work directly with patients.

Healthcare Education for Nurses and Managers

An associate's or bachelor's degree is an extremely valuable asset in the healthcare industry. For aspiring nurses, a BSN or nursing certificate will push your career to the next level. As more and more healthcare facilities are run like businesses, demand has exploded for competent healthcare administrators. And since it takes so long to turn out doctors from med schools, hospitals and private practices are constantly hiring medical assistants to pick up the slack.

If you're looking for a job with lots of human interaction, consider pursuing a career in healthcare. The timing couldn't be better, and every day you get the satisfaction of knowing that you help make people feel better.

Sources

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Health Care"
• Administration on Aging, "Aging into the 21st Century"

About the Author
Lauren Stadler considers herself a fashionista and expert bargain finder. To support her heavy spending lifestyle, she works as a systems engineer in Washington D.C.

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