Healthcare has continued to be a bright spot for U.S. employment figures, with future growth projected.
While the overall U.S. employment report for May fell short of economist expectations, the healthcare industry continued its upward trend and added jobs. Some 46,000 positions were gained, with 24,000 in ambulatory services, 17,000 in hospitals and 5,000 in nursing care facilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In April, the industry added a total of 44,200 jobs.
Healthcare is also predicted to benefit from one of the highest employment growth rates of any industry. It is expected to have a 26.5 percent growth rate, far above the 8.9 percent rate calculated for other sectors, according to HealthLeaders Media.
“By 2022, nearly one in eight U.S. jobs is projected to be in the healthcare sector,” said Patricia Pittman, Ph.D., codirector of the GW Health Workforce Institute at George Washington University, in an interview with the source.
Pittman attributes technological shifts and changing demographics as main factors contributing to the fast growth rate.
The number of registered nurses is expected to have the largest growth, with hiring forecast to reach nearly 530,000 positions in the next few years, according to HealthLeaders Media.
