The healthcare industry is vast, diverse, and continually growing. Healthcare jobs are always in demand, which is great for people who work in the healthcare field. However, if you're just starting your career, you may not find it easy to determine what type of career you'd like because there are so many options. When you're weighing your options, you should take into consideration which segment of the healthcare field most interests you, the amount of pay you'd like to receive, and where you want your career to lead you. Fortunately, many healthcare jobs pay higher-than-average wages, and there are plenty of jobs available.
According to the Brookings Institution, the healthcare industry employs 14.5 million people and accounts for 10.3 percent of jobs throughout the United States. Because healthcare jobs are needed in nearly every community, people located anywhere in the country can work in the healthcare field. Over the past decade, the healthcare industry has added approximately 2.6 million jobs nationwide, and healthcare today comprises a higher number of jobs than it did when the recession struck. According to the StarTribune, healthcare jobs accounted for 15 percent of job growth in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. For anyone planning a career in healthcare, these statistics show that the job market has the potential to grow regardless of economic circumstances.
Even though there are a variety of jobs available within the medical field, not all jobs pay well. According to Brookings Institution, healthcare wages vary by occupation type and location; however, on average, healthcare workers earn wages twice as high as the average American worker. If you're looking for well-paying healthcare jobs, health practitioners make the most money, so you can consider becoming a doctor, nurse practitioner, or dentist. If these options aren't for you, consider becoming a technologist in the healthcare field. Statistics show that healthcare technologists earn more than the average worker in 35 of the 100 metro areas surveyed.
When you're considering a career in the healthcare field, it's important to consider the types of jobs that are in high demand so that you can more easily build your career. According to the HEALTHeCAREERS Network's 2013 Quarter 2 Jobs Snapshot, the healthcare industry is seeing a high demand for workers in the mental health field, including counseling and social service professionals, mental health RNs, and psychiatrists. There is also a high demand for nurses, physicians, and surgeons.
Whether you're just beginning your college education or you're planning to change careers, the healthcare industry is a good option. With healthcare wages higher than typical wages and a vast number of healthcare jobs available, you'll have plenty of opportunities to build a successful career.
(Photo courtesy of stockimages / freedigitalphotos.net)
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