Health Care Job Growth Outpaces Other Industries

Health care is experiencing unprecedented growth. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), health care jobs are expected to grow 16% from 2020 to 2030—more than any other industry. This article will review how the industry is evolving, where the new occupations are, and what education and skills will be needed to fill them.

Strong Outlook for Health Care and Nursing Jobs Over Next Decade

With population changes, technical advances, growing health needs, and insurance reform, it’s an exciting time to be in health care. A confluence of factors will contribute to growth in this field:

• A growing population: The U.S. population will grow to approximately 359.4 million by 2030, according to Census.gov. More people mean a greater need for health care services.
• An aging population: The U.S. Census Bureau notes that by 2030, 20% of the U.S. population will be 65 or older—the first time in recorded U.S. history that older citizens will outnumber children. The aging population puts a greater demand on health care services because older people typically have greater health care needs than younger people.
• Chronic conditions: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 6 in 10 adults have a chronic condition and 4 in 10 have two or more chronic conditions (which include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis). As the number of Americans with chronic conditions continues to rise, additional workers will be needed to prevent, manage, and treat them.
• Medical advances: Improvements in technology and medicine, including widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs), mean more jobs for workers who have the skills to provide related health services.
• Increased emphasis on preventive care: With health care reform, more people have coverage for basic and routine care. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Urban Institute studied five U.S. cities that had some of the largest increases in demand for health services after the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010. The health care providers they interviewed reported hiring more staff, opening new sites, and extending their hours.
• Shortage of doctors: An acute physician shortage in the face of growing demand creates job opportunities for nurses as well as physician and medi cal assistants. The Association of American Medical Colleges suggests that the United States could see a shortage of nearly 122,000 physicians by 2032.

Here’s a look at several areas showing promising opportunities as a result of these factors, along with the education, skills, or background required to enter or advance in them.

Medical Assisting Faces Talent Shortage in Face of Spiking Demand

Medical assistant jobs are expected to grow 18% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This holds true across health care settings including group practices, clinics, hospitals, and other types of health care facilities. Medical assistants are needed to complete both administrative and clinical duties.

To enter the field, most people will need to earn a medical assistant certificate. While the education requirements vary from state to state, employers may prefer to hire medical assistants who have completed a medical assisting program. In many cases, students can prepare for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) examination and other related industry certifications as part of their certificate program. Learn more about how to become a medical assistant.

Nursing Remains a Growing Field

The BLS predicts that nursing will continue to be a growing career field through 2030, and the growth spans most health care settings, including hospitals, health clinics, doctors’ offices, residential care facilities, and ambulatory care settings.

The demand for nurse practitioners is expected to increase 45%, the BLS reports. Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) are needed to provide both preventive and primary care increasingly with confluence of a shortage of doctors and aging populace.

Furthermore, it’s not just the population of patients that’s aging—the nursing workforce itself is getting older. In fact, the BLS predicts an exodus of nurses from the workforce as they retire at the precise time when demand for nurses is rising.

>> Learn why APRNs are critical to improving access to care in the U.S.

For existing registered nurses (RNs) considering how to expand their skill set or take advantage of this opportunity, various paths are available:

• Earn a bachelor’s: RNs with a bachelor’s degree in nursing may have better job prospects, and for current RNs looking to advance their careers, a bachelor’s degree in nursing, such as an RN-to-BSN, is considered a standard requirement.
• Specialize in gerontology: Nurse practitioners specializing in geriatric care should continue to be in high demand as there will be more elderly people who will be living longer.
• Share nursing knowledge: Earning a Nurse Educator Certificate or master’s degree in nursing online could help prepare you to pursue career advancement in the field of nursing education.
• Pursue executive roles: Professional nurses may want to consider managerial or leadership roles in nursing. A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and an Executive Leader Graduate Certificate are two programs that support this career path.

>> Learn the top 4 reasons to earn an RN-to-BSN degree

Management Jobs in Health Care Expected to Increase

For health care workers already working in the industry, the question is how to continue evolving your skills and experience to enhance your career outlook. Advancing into management is a pathway to consider, as employment of medical and health services managers is expected to grow 32% between 2020 and 2030—much faster than average.

There are several ways to pursue a leadership career. Most medical and health services managers have at least a bachelor’s degree before entering the field; however, master’s degrees are common and sometimes preferred by employers. Degrees to consider:

• Master of Public Health
• Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration

Addictions and Behavioral Health Counselors Are Needed to Meet Demand

Employment of substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors is projected to grow 23% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than average. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that an estimated 40.3 million people had a substance use disorder in 2020. That same year, 4.0 million people aged 12 and over received substance use treatment.

>> View this infographic for additional stats about substance abuse.

Prepare to work in addictions:

Education programs in addictions include:

• Graduate Certificate in Addictions
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Addictions
• Master of Science in Psychology

Prepare to work in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA):

Programs to help you advance in a field helping people and families with behavior disorders include:

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology in Applied Behavior Analytics
• Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in ABA
• Postgraduate Certificate in ABA

Licensing and education requirements vary from state to state; it’s important to look for an accredited education provider that offers addictions programs approved by NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, and applied behavior programs approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board^®, Inc. (BACB^®).

Jobs Surge Greater in Certain Health Care Settings and States

Where you are located and what type of health setting you work in will also dictate your level of job growth.

Example: Maine Sees High Demand for Health Care Workers

The career opportunities in health care are even greater in certain locations across the United States. For example, health care and social assistance jobs are fourth in terms of statewide growth in Maine, according to Maine.gov's Center for Workforce Research and Information. Jobs in health care-related fields have grown 88.4% since 1990, employing more than 103,000 Maine residents. And the demand for health care workers in Maine is expected to continue to increase, according to Center for Workforce Research.

Many Jobs Will Be in Health Practitioner Offices and Hospitals

Physician’s offices: Between 2019 and 2029, jobs in offices of health practitioners across the United States are projected to grow by 13%, reports the Center for Health Workforce Studies. Types of occupations commonly employed in these settings include the following (we’ve included a link to education programs related to that career path, though the job level and ways to get there will vary):

• Medical assistants (certificate)
• Nurses (ASN, BSN, MSN, or DNP)
• Medical secretaries (certificate)
• Billing clerks (certificate)

Hospitals: In 2019, approximately one-third of all health care jobs were in hospitals—more than any other setting. Occupations in hospitals include the following:

• Nurses (ASN, BSN, MSN, or DNP)
• Medical and health services managers (bachelor’s or master’s)
• Medical assistants (certificate)
• Medical records specialists (certificate)
• Health information professionals (bachelor’s/HIM or master’s degree in health information management or health informatics)

Technology Drives Opportunity, Creates New Specialties

This means new opportunities within health care, as medical and technological advances—for example, telemedicine/telehealth, wearable health tracking devices, centralized medical software, and improved medical analysis—alter the industry. With that comes a heightened need for health care professionals who possess the knowledge, skills, and education to use and incorporate the latest technologies.

The field of health care IT is growing and changing rapidly, even more so because the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act in 2009 placed a greater emphasis on electronic medical records and electronic health records. Entirely new technology-driven specialties have emerged, such as health informatics, health information management, information security, and records management.

>> Learn about the flourishing field of health informatics

A Blend of Technical and Soft Skills Proves a Winning Combination

While technology is revolutionizing the industry, it won’t replace the need for qualified health services professionals. A shifting labor market means automation is taking over more routine and manual tasks, placing a greater demand on jobs that humans excel at and are required for, including non-routine interpersonal and analytical jobs. Because health care-related jobs often require personal interaction, they are more difficult to outsource or replace with automation.

This means developing your soft skills is more important than ever. While workers will need the education, training, related licensing, and experience to deliver health services, employers say it’s not only about technical or clinical experience—you also need good people skills and the ability to be patient, caring, and compassionate. To maximize career outcomes, look for health care education programs that include an emphasis on the following areas:

• Communication
• Team building
• Diversity
• Ethics and professionalism
• Leadership

Explore opportunities in health care and health sciences at Purdue Global.