Health Care — The Big Picture As the largest industry in 2006, health care provided 14 million jobs - 13.6 million jobs for wage and salary workers and about 438,000 jobs for the self-employed.   7 of the 20 fastest growing occupations are health care related.   Health care will generate 3 million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.   Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of college education.

10 fastest growing jobs in health care

Many of the occupations projected to grow the fastest in the economy are concentrated in the health care industry. For example, over the 2006-16 period, total employment of home health aides is projected to increase by 46.9 percent, medical assistants by 36.1 percent, physical therapist assistants by 29.7 percent, and physician assistants by 29.6 percent.

Another occupation that is expected to have many openings is registered nurses. The median age of registered nurses is increasing, and not enough younger workers are replacing them. As a result, employers in some parts of the country are reporting difficulties in attracting and retaining nurses. The difference between the supply of and the demand for qualified workers should encourage employers to increase their efforts to attract and retain qualified registered nurses.

Health Care Careers and Education

According to the Bureau of Labor:

Professional occupations, such as physicians and surgeons, dentists, registered nurses, social workers, and physical therapists, usually require at least a bachelor's degree in a specialized field or higher education in a specific health field, although registered nurses also enter through associate degree or diploma programs. Professional workers often have high levels of responsibility and complex duties. In addition to providing services, these workers may supervise other workers or conduct research.

Other health professionals and technicians work in many fast growing occupations, such as medical records and health information technicians and dental hygienists. These workers may operate technical equipment and assist health diagnosing and treating practitioners. Graduates of 1- or 2-year training programs often fill such positions; the jobs usually require specific formal training beyond high school, but less than 4 years of college.

Service occupations attract many workers with little or no specialized education or training. For instance, some of these workers are nursing aides, home health aides, building cleaning workers, dental assistants, medical assistants, and personal and home care aides. Nursing or home health aides provide health-related services for ill, injured, disabled, elderly, or infirm individuals either in institutions or in their homes. By providing routine personal care services, personal and home care aides help elderly, disabled, and ill persons live in their own homes instead of in an institution. Although some of these workers are employed by public or private agencies, many are self-employed. With experience and, in some cases, further education and training, service workers may advance to higher level positions or transfer to new occupations.

Most workers in health care jobs provide clinical services, but many also are employed in occupations with other functions. Numerous workers in management and administrative support jobs keep organizations running smoothly. Although many medical and health services managers have a background in a clinical specialty or training in health care administration, some enter these jobs with a general business education.

Employment and Salary Outlook

Wage and salary employment in the health care industry is projected to increase 22 percent through 2016, compared with 11 percent for all industries combined.

Employment growth is expected to account for about 3 million new wage and salary jobs-which is 20 percent of all wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 2006-16 period.

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