Which Healthcare Jobs Will See Massive Growth in The Coming Years

The healthcare industry has been one of the fastest-growing parts of the economy over the past decade. And that growth is expected to continue over the next 10 years. Help wanted signs can already be seen posted outside hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities as they struggle to keep up with demand. For job seekers, this presents an exciting opportunity to launch or pivot a career into a stable, lucrative industry that offers plenty of advancement potential.

Several healthcare occupations are projected to experience much faster than average growth by 2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) latest employment projections. Let’s examine some of the most promising healthcare jobs that will see massive expansion in the near future.

Home Health and Personal Care Aides

As the American population ages, demand for assisted living and at-home healthcare services is skyrocketing. Home health and personal care aides provide important direct care, helping people who require assistance with everyday activities like bathing, getting dressed, making meals, and more. Often working with older adults, people with disabilities, or patients recovering from illness/injury.

This essential healthcare job already ranks among the largest occupations in the country. The BLS projects over 1.1 million new home health/personal care aide jobs will open up from 2022 to 2032 – a 33% explosion in growth that massively outpaces other industries. Rising rates of chronic conditions, improved medical care extending lifespans, and growing preference for at-home vs. facility-based care fuel the surging demand.

Nursing Jobs

An aging population plus expanding healthcare access equals a dire need for all types of nurses now through 2032. After home health aides, registered nurses (RNs) rank #2 for total job growth this decade at over 396,000 new openings forecast nationwide. Specialized nurses like nurse practitioners (NPs) and nurse anesthetists will see 45-57% spikes in demand even faster.

Nursing shortages are already problematic across most states. Retirement of existing nurses coupled with insufficient newcomers to replace them makes facilities very competitive with pay and perks to attract talent. Becoming an RN, NP, nurse anesthetist, or other nursing professional means benefiting from excellent job security and pay – over $75,000 average salary for RNs and $120,000+ for NPs.

Medical Assistants

While some medical careers require intensive education, like medical school for doctors/physicians, other healthcare roles, like medical assistants, offer faster training options to start working. Medical assistants perform administrative and basic clinical duties at healthcare facilities, serving a critical support function for doctors and nurses while interfacing directly with patients, too.

With many everyday medical services shifting to outpatient clinics instead of hospitals, medical assistants work everywhere, from private practices to emergency care centers, helping keep things running smoothly. The number of medical assistant jobs is projected to swell by 30%, adding 317,400 new openings. It’s among the biggest numeric job growth across all occupations, not just healthcare positions.

Physical Therapist Assistants

Supporting the crucial role of physical therapists to help patients recovering from injury/illness regain mobility and manage pain, physical therapist assistants will be very sought-after. These healthcare professionals assist with exercise routines, traction/hot/cold therapies, monitoring vitals, and more, all under a licensed PT’s supervision.

Because demand for cost-effective supportive rehab services is expanding so vastly, the number of physical therapist assistants needed in America will balloon by a whopping 45%, translating to 23,100 fresh job openings from 2022-2032. That incredible growth rate makes it one of the top healthcare jobs poised for maximum expansion.

Mental Health Counselors

Unfortunately, mental illness and substance abuse issues already impact over 20% of US adults each year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Sadly, this trend worsened as rates were notably lower over past generations. Add kids into the equation, and the prevalence reaches a staggering 46% struggling with mental health disorders yearly.

Yet while need surges, mental healthcare infrastructure severely lags with understaffing problems and limited accessibility plaguing much of the country. The good news? All signs point to massive investments and growth ahead to fill these crucial gaps. Mental health counselor jobs are projected to jump 33% over the next decade, with over 100,00 openings predicted.

The Outlook Across Healthcare Occupations

While the above jobs represent some standouts, the truth is healthcare as a whole will generate abundant openings across many occupations over the 2022-2032 decade. According to BLS tabulations, an extra 2.6 million new jobs is far greater growth than most industries can claim.

Nearly one-fifth of all new jobs during that extensive 10-year period will land in the healthcare sector if growth meets projections. Positions with the fastest expansion include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, home health aides, personal care aides, medical assistants, and registered nurses.

But increased demand won’t be restricted to frontline care roles alone. Openings will markedly climb across healthcare manager, technician, therapist jobs, and more. The rampant growth will impact hospitals, home health services, outpatient centers, nursing facilities, and healthcare teams.

In an economy plagued by rising inflation and fears of recession, healthcare steadfastly marches forward as a smart career choice, promising impressive gains in years to come. Looking no further than this perpetually expanding sector for those wondering where the most reliable job growth and security will be found moving forward.