An economic shift from goods production to services has given rise to an increase in career opportunities in the health care field.
The health care industry is changing rapidly. In the past if you were to consider a career in health care you had few choices: become a doctor, nurse, dentist or veterinarian. Now with the many advances in technology, choices for careers in the health care industry have greatly expanded and will continue to do so for as long as the need for more and better health care exists. This is predicted to last at least into the second quarter of the twenty first century.
Shift from Goods to Services
Economically, the shift from the production of goods to providing services as the primary focus of jobs in the U.S. also promotes rapid growth in the health care industry. Over the next decade, service providing fields such as health care will experience the greatest growth. Education and social assistance services are the other service industries expected to grow as fast as health care. Three out of every ten jobs created in the next decade will be in health care.
Unlike goods production which has been out sourced to off shore locations, health care has to remain on site and in small communities as well as large metropolises.
Aging Population Demands Care
As the population grows and ages the demand for health care will continue to increase. The largest portion of the population is the Baby Boomers who were born between 1946 and 1964. In 2006, the first of the Baby Boomers turned 60 and began to retire.
As this faction of the population ages, it will require more health care, and demand better technology and solutions. This will also place a strain on the already short supplies of doctors and nurses. Inner city and lower socio-economic areas perhaps feel this shortage more than other areas.
Nursing Careers Grow Fastest
Nursing will be the fastest growing occupation at least until 2014. Although the number of nurses needed in hospitals is expected to shrink over that time, other areas such as home health, outpatient settings, day surgeries, and other ambulatory care settings will see a growing need.
The Nursing Shortage
A critical shortage of nurse educators is severely limiting the number of new nurses entering the field. Most nursing schools have long waiting lists. Nursing salaries have risen dramatically over the last decade due to shortages, and nursing schools cannot compete with these salaries to hire sufficient nurse educators. These challenges will continue to make health care an exciting, growing and changing industry.
