Job Tips for Out-of-Work Healthcare Workers

by Alex A. Kecskes

If you’ve been laid off and are actively looking for a job in the healthcare field, take heart. According to a report by the PwC Health Research Institute, healthcare is poised to become 20 percent of the nation's Gross Domestic Product by 2019. What’s more, over three-fourths of Fortune 50 Companies are actively in healthcare or have a healthcare division.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry added 13,500 jobs in June. These were mostly in ambulatory care; but over 5,000 new jobs were added for healthcare workers in physicians' offices. A total of 5,300 new jobs opened up in home healthcare. In total, ambulatory care added about 16,500 jobs.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while the nation's unemployment rate was stubbornly stuck at 9.2 percent at the end of June, the unemployment rate in healthcare was just 5.8 percent.

So as discouraged as you may be in trying to find a job week after week, there is hope. You simply have to be persistent in your job search efforts. And you have to be willing to continually learn what the industry wants, for the industry is constantly changing. New procedures, best practices and technology are always being evaluated and upgraded.

If you’ve been out of work for some time, you should consider taking classes to brush up on your skills, as well as the latest procedures and technology. You can also learn by volunteering part time at a hospital or healthcare facility. Doing this will bring you “up to speed” on the latest procedures and practices in the healthcare industry. And you'll make valuable contacts that could lead to full-time employment.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

If you have any thoughts or suggestions on helping out-of-work healthcare workers, feel free to share them in the comments section.