| It was long feared that the aging of the baby | | | | occupation for job growth over the next |
| boomer generation would bring about a | | | | decade. The number of current nursing |
| healthcare crisis in the United States, and | | | | professionals approaching retirement is |
| our nation's politicians have planned | | | | growing far faster than the number of nursing |
| accordingly. Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid | | | | program graduates, and recruitment efforts by |
| benefits have been implemented several times | | | | healthcare organizations are already |
| over the last decade, and congress has | | | | underway. Nursing salaries have risen |
| recently proposed a package that would reduce | | | | substantially over the last several years, |
| benefits 40% over the next 9 years, while | | | | and increases are expected as competition for |
| raising premiums 20%. Still, every cloud | | | | workers becomes more prevalent. Sign on |
| seems to indeed have a silver lining, as one | | | | bonuses that were once unheard of are now |
| positive to result from the increased burden | | | | commonplace, and those entering the field |
| to the health care system can be seen in the | | | | have more options than ever in terms of the |
| number of health industry jobs projected to | | | | type of facility they wish to work in. |
| become available over the next ten years. In | | | | |
| the next ten years, the single fastest | | | | Home health care aid positions are expected |
| growing employment sector in the U.S. will be | | | | to rise as well, with more and more Americans |
| in gerontology and senior healthcare. | | | | choosing to forgo assisted living options and |
| | | | instead remain independent. Jobs on the |
| Still, a new problem emerges when considering | | | | administrative end of the healthcare industry |
| the supply of trained healthcare workers vs. | | | | are also on the rise as insurance companies |
| the number of adults whose aging is expected | | | | brace for the tide of health claims expected |
| to increase the population of the 55 to 65 | | | | to hit the industry. As with all employment |
| year old category over the next decade. | | | | sectors that have a limited supply of |
| Worker shortages for the healthcare industry | | | | qualified personnel and an increasing demand |
| are inevitable, which means career | | | | for them, wages and salaries will continue to |
| opportunities will be not only plentiful, but | | | | rise until positions are filled. |
| more lucrative overall as a result. | | | | |
| | | | Those entering college or technical school |
| According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor | | | | programs can find increased salary potential |
| Statistics, healthcare related jobs are | | | | and job security in the healthcare sector. |
| expected to grow faster than the national | | | | While the price of health care is rising, so |
| average for all other industries through 2014 | | | | are the potential employment opportunities in |
| and likely beyond. The nursing field, in | | | | an industry that will struggle to meet the |
| particular, is the second fastest-growing | | | | demands of the current aging population. |