If you're considering a career change, it makes sense to enter a field with good prospects for future jobs. Analysts constantly track changes in our economy and society in order to predict future occupational trends--and the healthcare industry is coming up the clear winner.
Staffing Shortages in Healthcare
The field that is expected to grow the fastest over the next decade is the healthcare industry. At all levels of employment, from
medical assisting to
management and administration experts predict employee shortages. As our population ages, healthcare workers will find themselves more valuable than ever. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the healthcare and medical assistance fields will grow by 30 percent and add
4.3 million new jobs over the next 10 years.
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Training Is Key
Education is necessary to qualify for the best jobs in healthcare. This may entail upgrading from RN status to a bachelor of science in nursing (
RN-to-BSN), or pursuing an
associate's degree in healthcare administration. Many of these degrees can even be earned
online, allowing students the opportunity to train for a new career off-campus and on their own schedules.
Career Prospects for Healthcare Workers
In 2004, the median salary for a registered nurse was around $57,000 a year. Federal projections estimate that with the current nursing shortage, over 800,000 nursing positions will go unfilled in the U.S. by 2020. As demand for healthcare workers grows, salaries will also rise. Healthcare providers should look forward to higher earnings and excellent benefits.
Healthcare positions are not limited to providing care directly. You might consider being a medical and health services manager, who organizes and maintains medical services and records. Healthcare-related administrative positions are projected to increase by 21-35%, and offer very competitive salaries. In 2004, medical and health services managers earned median salaries of over $67,000. In addition to the steady income, working in healthcare services allows you to assist others and pursue a fulfilling career.
Sources:
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