Health Care Career Opportunities Growing as Baby Boomer Generation Ages

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