For anyone who wants to predict what sector of the economy will have the fastest growth, the field of healthcare stands above the rest as one that is poised for a strong and prosperous future.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a report in 2012 outlining occupations that it expects to see the strongest growth. By the Bureau’s estimate, all occupations within healthcare will see a 14.3% increase, or approximately 20.5 million more jobs, overall. Those numbers by any understanding are strong.  When looking at individual job functions on the list, it’s easy to pick out the ones related to healthcare; when you look at the list as a whole, it is astonishing to see exactly how prominent a role that healthcare will play for the jobs of the future.

You might ask what is causing healthcare to become a leading industry for job creation. Some of it stems from legislation, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which mandates changes in healthcare and its associated industries. Advances in medical technology and information technology are another factor, with entire new fields of research and technology being created overnight. And then, there are the demographic shifts that will lead to more retirements among current healthcare staff, and more patients, especially among baby boomers, who will require care. Fewer workers and more patients equal a higher demand for qualified workers.

Some of the associated salaries for these fast-growing occupations are equally strong. Take the job occupation of registered nurse, for example. It is already a well-paid occupation, with an average salary of $64,690. That is expected to see a 26 percent growth, adding over 700,000 registered nurses to the healthcare economy. Physicians and surgeons, who appear at 29 on the list, have an average salary of over $111,000 – a very rewarding salary. For positions like home health aides and personal care aides will see about a 70 percent increase. Other occupations documented in this report include nursing aides and orderlies, medical secretaries, licensed practical nurses, physicians and surgeons, and medical assistants.

As a special note for Job seekers: qualifications for many healthcare roles require specialized skills and certifications that cannot be obtained overnight. Work toward that training now and get in on the ground floor of these emerging growth occupations.

Navigate the changes in healthcare staffing and placement with PACE Staffing Network. We bring a deep knowledge of the entire healthcare playing field to the table and make it work for you and your business.