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