Future Medical Careers

The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the nation.  Some of the best careers for the future are in the healthcare industry, and many future careers will be found in the healthcare field.  Because of an aging populace and advances in medical practice, the top careers of the future may just be in the healthcare field.  The best careers of future students will be made in the healthcare field, and among those at the top medical careers of the future are considered constantly.  Thousands of healthcare jobs are created monthly and the salary outlook for the medical field are increasing annually.  The healthcare industry in the United States currently employs more than 14 million people, and that is expected to increase to at least 20 million by 2030.  Healthcare jobs are among the best-paying jobs in the nation, and are typically very stable and resistant to changes in the economy. 

Types of Healthcare Jobs

Healthcare workers are more than just doctors and nurses and a nursing career is among the top medical careers of future.  Home health care aides and physician’s assistants are very popular careers which require significantly less training than more specialized careers.  While nurses may have to attend school for 6 to 8 years, a physician’s assistant or a home health care aide can get by with very little formal education.  Many jobs in the healthcare industry are more readily accessible to those with hands-on experience, so formal education is not always a requirement for employment. 

Many healthcare workers specialize in the care of the elderly, while others may prefer providing hospice care to the terminally ill.  While nursing is by far the largest sector in the healthcare industry, it is a sector that is expected to continue growing for at least the next 10 years.  There are currently nearly 3 million nurses working in healthcare around the country.  Nurses can work in any area of the healthcare industry, whether it is the surgical department, elder care, or even dentistry.  Wherever the nurse’s passion lies, there is a job waiting. 

Where to Find Job Outlook Information

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks and analyzes employment data from every sector of the economy.  Whether it is healthcare, retail, education, or any other career path, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is there to ensure that the latest in employment data is available.  The BLS commissions studies that analyze trends in employment data, and the Bureau provides annual reports on which sectors are performing the best, and which are underperforming.  Thanks to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is easy to predict how quickly the best careers for the future will grow.  Future careers may revolve around the healthcare industry as people live longer than ever before.  In the healthcare industry, the careers of the future may turn more to maintenance care and preventative medicine.  The increase in quality of medical care and medications will make it far easier than ever before to care for patients of advanced age.  Of course, the increasing number of elderly patients will necessitate the creation of new healthcare jobs across the entire sector.  Caring for the ill and elderly among a growing population is a full-time job, and the jobs created in the healthcare industry will surely increase over time.

How Career Data is Forecasted

Beyond complex mathematical models is the simple fact that, by looking at the current ratio of healthcare workers to patients, it is easy to see just how necessary it will be in the future to have qualified medical professionals.  Simply by knowing how the average ages will progress, analysts can determine the number and type of healthcare professionals required at given intervals in the future.  Thankfully, the accuracy of these models is backed up by various mathematical progressions and formulae which can accurately forecast to within a few percentage points exactly how job outlooks will progress.

With that data, collected from sources such as census and employment data, analysts can accurately predict not only the career outlook data, but even salary ranges, as well.  By using current salary and job-demand data, analysts at agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics can determine which of the careers in the health-care industry will have the best outlook, and how many of a given job will be available at set future dates. 

How to Use This Data

Anyone in the United States has access to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The Internet and written requests are both honored by the Bureau, and it is particularly useful in a number of situations.  One of the most useful of these is the fact that students who are considering attending a 4-year university while being undecided about a career path can steer their academic plan toward a career that will be in high demand around the time they graduate from college.  By planning things in such a way, students limit their downtime after college, and have the best possible chance to ensure themselves a lucrative career in their chosen field.  Students who are interested in the medical professions, for example, may choose to study to become a Registered Nurse, a designation attainable after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing.  

For those considering the use of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it is important to know that the accuracy of the data is not guaranteed.  It is meant solely to be a guide and for use in governmental functions.  The data works very well for predicting trends and salary ranges, but it is still only vague numbers.  It’s difficult to take into account the variables that come into play over long periods of time, and for that reason the further out that the Bureau forecasts, the less accurate it will be. 

Regardless of the profession chosen within the healthcare industry, the fact remains that the healthcare fields will remain among the fastest-growing and well-paying in the United States.  Whether it is being a physician, a nurse, or just a certified care worker, it is easy to see why people are flocking to the top medical careers of the future. 

Get information about a variety of careers at the Dept. of Labor’s website at:

http://www.bls.gov/OCO/.