The Best Healthcare Professions in 2019

The most in-demand healthcare jobs of the past year

Healthcare is continually advancing, and our average lifespan is continually increasing, so it’s no wonder most of the top jobs for the future are in the healthcare industry. Whether you have just left school, or are unhappy in your current career and are looking for alternatives, the healthcare industry will have an option that suits you. Not only is the industry continually evolving, introducing new methodologies, introducing new technologies and more, it also has a growth rate that beats the majority of other industries in the United States today.

The average growth rate across all industries in the United States is 7 percent, but the healthcare industry has a much higher rate of growth. You will be able to start your career with the knowledge that there will be lots of opportunities available for you on completion of your training. With the healthcare industry continually expanding, and the aging population requiring more assistance, you will be able to rest assured knowing that job opportunities will only continue increasing for the foreseeable future.

The healthcare industry has been steadily growing for the past seven years, unlike other industries whose hiring trends are cyclical. With this growth, there is now a huge demand for qualified healthcare staff, who are passionate about what they are doing and want to help others.  In this article, we’re going to take a look at what we can expect from the future of healthcare, and also examine the careers that will always be in demand.

The Healthcare Industry and the Future

The healthcare industry is adapting and evolving like all other industries. The only difference between the industries is the rate in which they are growing. The healthcare industry is continually introducing new research, new technologies, and rapid innovations in order to meet patient needs. Everyone wants to be healthy, which means there needs to be a way for people to have a healthy lifestyle at a reasonable cost and pace.

The population of today wants to remain healthier for a longer period of time and at a cheaper price, and it is because of this that innovation has to continually happen. Operations need to become more affordable and more easily accessible. Healthcare that is cheaper and more accessible will lead to people living longer and healthier lives.

In an ideal world, the healthcare industry will find a way to help more people at a cheaper cost. If they are able to do more at a cheaper price, then they will be able to increase the number of patients they are able to treat.

The industry is changing in other ways too. It is no longer using as many analogue systems; instead it is using automatic systems, artificial intelligence and robotic systems. Like many other industries, the healthcare industry is looking for ways to do more with less money, and technology is the solution in many areas.

The healthcare industry is also placing a huge emphasis on education. The more educated healthcare professionals are, the more likely they are to think of new ideas or solutions for health conditions. Whether you’re wanting to become a doctor, a healthcare assistant or are wanting some information on how to be a nurse practitioner, you’ll find there are plenty of educational materials, and courses available to you both in a traditional setting and online. There are lots of different job roles available in the healthcare industry that could suit you.

What Will Jobs in the Healthcare Industry Look Like in the Future?

The healthcare industry is changing the future of employment within the industry. The job roles that are available today may not necessarily be available in a few years’ time. The healthcare institutions of the future will focus on providing more products and services to patients. Their aim is to provide more comprehensive services within one location rather than asking their patients to go to a variety of different providers to get what they need.

As mentioned above, healthcare jobs of the future will also see a huge change due to the evolving medical technology that is being developed at present. One example of this is the introduction of 3D printing. In the future, we will be using 3D printed materials for reconstructive surgery instead of using a hard polymer or metal materials. The introduction of 3D printing also allows medics to customize the reconstruction depending on the patient’s exact specifications.

Jobs in the future will focus more on patient-centered care. Patients will receive care that is more tailored to their needs and wants. The rate in which healthcare jobs change will mainly depend on what new technology becomes available. In the past few years, the introduction of new technology has been extremely fast, and many experts expect this to continue.

The Healthcare Jobs That are Likely to Have the Most Growth in the Future

Below is a list of the healthcare jobs that have grown the most since 2014. Many of these job roles will continue to increase long after 2024 due to the ageing population and advancements in technology.

1. Occupational Therapy Assistant – The current growth rate since 2014 is 40 percent. Occupational therapy assistants are not the same as occupational therapy aides. Therapy assistants work with patients to perform exercises that have been devised by an occupational therapist. Their main responsibilities are to provide encouragement, monitor patient activities, and work with disabled patients. They also help assist patients who have had traumatic injuries. Most occupational therapy assistants can choose which age ranges they want to work with; they could choose children, adults or the elderly. Occupational therapy assistants can earn approximately $54,000 a year.
2. Home Health Aide – The current growth rate since 2014 is 38 percent. Home health aides usually work with chronically ill or disabled patients who are unable to do daily tasks themselves, yet don’t want to enter into institutionalized care. They help perform daily tasks, administer medication and provide some basic health services. Home care aides assist patients with any tasks that need doing, such as shopping, cleaning, laundry, running errands, wound dressing, etc. Home Health Aides also provide patients with a bit of company that they might otherwise not receive. You can earn approximately $21,000 in this job role.
3. Physical Therapist – The current growth rate since 2014 is 34 percent. Physical therapists diagnose any movements that are dysfunctional when a patient stands or walks; they will also look back through a patient’s history and address any issues they find. They put care plans into place that aim to sort out any abnormalities and improve the patient’s mobility. They also help them to start walking again and/or prevent them from experiencing pain or injuring themselves. Physical therapists promote healthy lifestyles and educate their patients about health and fitness. To become a physical therapist, you need a doctoral degree or an accredited professional degree. You could earn up to $80,000 a year, depending on experience and location.
4. Nurse Practitioner – The growth rate since 2014 is 31 percent. Nurse practitioners fill the gaps between physicians and registered nurses. They are able to identify and treat acute illnesses or injuries, can offer immunizations, and can help patients to manage their chronic health conditions. As the industry continues to expand, there is a huge demand for nurse practitioners. You could earn up to $100,000 a year in this role.
5. Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Midwife – The growth rate since 2014 is 31 percent. These nurses take on much more responsibility than a normal registered nurse, but they require a lot more training. To become a nurse anesthetist, or a nurse midwife, you need to obtain a master’s degree. Some of the responsibilities and roles that nurse anesthetists and midwives have include performing tests, researching, and recording a patient’s history. These roles could be a great choice for you if you enjoy a variety of responsibilities. You could earn up to $96,000 a year from these professions.
6. Physician Assistant – The growth rate since 2014 is 30 percent. Physician assistants organize diagnostic tests, look through patient histories, provide treatment, including immunizations, record patient progress and prescribe medicines. Physician assistants educate people about medical conditions and how to use medical treatments. To become a physician assistant, you will be expected to have a master’s degree. In this role, you could earn up to $96,000 a year.
7. Audiologist – The growth rate since 2014 is 29 percent. Audiologists look after people’s hearing and balance issues. They perform examinations by looking into a patient’s inner ear; they then diagnose any problems and fit patients with hearing devices if they need them. Audiologists are also responsible for performing research and offer help with different ways to communicate including lip reading or signing. To become an audiologist, you need to have a doctor of audiology degree. An audiologist could earn up to $70,000 a year.

As we’ve spoken about above, the healthcare industry is continually developing and evolving new technology in order to improve patient outcomes and the overall efficiency of treatment. Due to the constant evolution of the industry, there are many jobs available today that would not have existed a few years ago. For example, with 3D printing being introduced, the healthcare industry now requires professionals who are able to use the printing software. There are many new and exciting roles available in the healthcare industry, from a reconstructive 3D printing specialist to a virtual hospital manager. Which healthcare role would suit you?