| The employment outlook for health care workers | | | | dramatic. "Employment growth is expected to |
| as well as salaries for almost all health care related | | | | account for about 3.6 million new wage and salary |
| positions is on the rise, according to the U.S. | | | | jobs-19 percent of all wage and salary jobs added |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Job opportunities | | | | to the economy over the 2004-14 period. |
| should be excellent in all employment settings | | | | Projected rates of employment growth for the |
| because of high job turnover, particularly from | | | | various segments of the industry range from 13 |
| the large number of expected retirements and | | | | percent in hospitals, the largest and slowest |
| tougher immigration rules that are slowing the | | | | growing industry segment, to 69 percent in the |
| numbers of foreign health care workers entering | | | | much smaller home health care services." The |
| the U.S. Wage and salary employment in the | | | | bottom line for those considering a career in the |
| health care industry is projected to increase 27 | | | | health care industry is a positive outlook for the |
| percent through 2014, compared with 14 percent | | | | near future. With economic uncertainty making |
| for all industries combined" While the baby boomer | | | | other traditional career choices less attractive, |
| generation ages and hospitals cut expenditures | | | | enrollment for health care related educational |
| and limit staffing, many of these new positions will | | | | programs is on the rise. Still, many health care |
| come from the home health care industry. | | | | professions require multiple years of training. While |
| Traditionally, elderly individuals have relied on | | | | some industry needs for personnel can be quickly |
| extended hospitals stays for post surgery care or | | | | met, especially at the administrative level, not all |
| ongoing illnesses. With many insurance companies | | | | positions will be accounted for. Whether the |
| limiting the number of overnight stays they will | | | | current supply of health care field graduates can |
| pay for, both procedurally and as a cumulative | | | | meet the current and future demand, especially |
| annual total per policyholder, as well as increased | | | | for positions in nursing, patient diagnostics and |
| desire from seniors to stay independent in their | | | | other highly technical areas, is truly anyone's |
| later years, the shift in patient care has been | | | | guess. |