According to the latest statistics, the national unemployment rate is 8.8 (as of March 2011), compared to the national rate of 9.6 for 2010. The healthcare industry has added 283,000 jobs over the last 12 months; 37,000 of those were added in March 2011; 34,000 in February 2011; and 11,000 in January 2011. Despite the growing statistics, the number of job seekers looking for employment remains relatively high.

According to some sources, it is estimated that approximately 40 percent of available healthcare jobs are in hospitals, 21 percent in nursing and residential care facilities and 16 percent in physician offices.  The healthcare industry should generate approximately 3.2 million new jobs through 2018, which is more than any other industry.

Advances in medicine and information technology will result in employment growth in Information Technology and worker efficiency. These advances will create more jobs in healthcare IT, as well as medical research and development. With these advances, opportunities for highly skilled and specialized workers with multiple skill sets should also rise.

FASTEST GROWING SPECIALITIES

The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines growth of 14% to 19% to be faster than average and 20% or more as much faster than average. Here are some of the fastest growing healthcare specialties. The percentages are projected employment growth from 2008 to 2018.

• Home Health Aides – 50%
• Physician Assistants & Nurse Practitioners – 39%
• Medical Assistants – 34%
• Physical Therapist Assistants – 33%
• Physical Therapist – 30%
• Occupational Therapist – 26%
• Cardiovascular Technologist – 24%
• Registered Nurse – 22%
• Speech Language Pathologist – 19%
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer – 18%
• Pharmacist – 17%
• Clinical Laboratory Technologist – 14%

PRIMARY CARE

To increase the availability of primary care, there will be incentives offered in the new Reform Bill that might help increase the number of primary care providers. These include funding for scholarship programs and loan repayments for primary care providers who work in underserved areas. Doctors and nurses receiving payments made under any state loan repayment or loan forgiveness program intended to increase the availability of health care services in underserved areas, will not have to pay taxes on those payments.

The new government website (www.healthcare.gov ) offers some insight on the Reform Bill and timeline for changes related to healthcare that might affect jobs.

RSG Health Services – www.rsghealth.com – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it – (800) 804-2345