The Fastest Growing Jobs in Healthcare

Healthcare is a rapidly growing field -- the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average growth rate of nearly 20% in this industry by 2026. This growth is much faster than any other sector. Though not all healthcare occupations are experiencing the same growth velocity. Many factors impact the jobs that will be experiencing the most demand, such as our large aging population, technological advances, and industry trends.

Shift to Outpatient Care and Home Healthcare

Medical advancements and costs are impacting where people choose to receive their medical care. Inpatient care carries a much higher price tag than outpatient and home healthcare options. Now, with growing improvements in surgical procedures and diagnostic testing, patients have more flexibility in their recovery and treatment choices.

Many surgical procedures are far less invasive than they used to be. This progression increases the number of operations that can be performed in an outpatient setting. It also supports quicker recovery times, allowing patients to leave the hospital sooner than before.

Improved diagnostic tools and innovative testing solutions are minimizing the need for inpatient care to diagnose and treat many illnesses and conditions. And once these individuals have been diagnosed, medical breakthroughs and advancements support numerous at-home treatment regimens. These trends are helping to drive patients out of hospitals into outpatient facilities and back home with the assistance of home care aides.

In-Demand Healthcare Careers

In addition to the shift in where patients are receiving medical care, who they turn to for this care is also important in determining job growth in this sector. These are the 9 top in-demand professions in the healthcare field with a 20 percent or higher projected growth rate.

• Physician's Assistant (PA) -- 39% growth rate
• Medical Assistant (MA) -- 34% growth rate
• Pharmacy Technician -- 32% growth rate
• Dental Hygienist -- 30% growth rate
• Physical Therapist -- 27% growth rate
• Radiation Therapist -- 25% growth rate
• Surgical Technician -- 24% growth rate
• Registered Nurse (RN) -- 22.2% growth rate
• Pharmacist -- 22% growth rate

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