Healthcare Job Outlook Dims in Golden State

by Alex A. Kecskes

A bad economy has created poor prospects for healthcare workers in California.

Healthcare, once a magnet for jobs in the Golden State typically employs roughly 1 in 10 Californians. The sad fact is that today, fewer hospitals are hiring and some are cutting workers' hours, reducing their benefits and even laying off trained staff.

The culprit is California's 12.4% unemployment rate, which is now the third highest in the nation. In spite of this gloomy news, healthcare remains one of the healthiest segments of the U.S. economy, employing almost 14 million Americans. But while over 318,000 healthcare jobs were added nationwide since October 2009, California's healthcare sector added only 9,000 jobs over the same period.

Experts disagree over the root cause, but most can't argue with the facts: California employers faced with rising healthcare costs have cut back on coverage for their employees, which has forced workers to cut back on using healthcare services. This reduced demand has resulted in providers reducing staff, including support staff, nurses and technicians. One survey found that only half of new nursing graduates were actually working as RNs in mid-2010. And one-fifth of those graduates have been trying to find healthcare jobs for over a year.

According to a 2009 survey by the California Hospital Association, half of California hospitals have seen a decrease in admissions and more than half saw a drop in elective surgery. Employee healthcare premiums just keep going up in spite of Obamacare. And yes, preexisting conditions can't be denied—but only for children—not for the millions of middle aged and older patients who desperately need coverage now.

For an additional perspective, check out this video:

For more information on health careers, visit http://www.healthcarejobsite.com/