Dive Brief:
- Healthcare jobs are among the fastest-growing U.S. occupations, though growth may be slowing, reports FierceHealthcare.
- Personal care aides and home health aides should see a 21% increase in demand over the next four years; Meanwhile, medical secretaries, medical assistants, registered nurses, nursing assistants and LPNs are all in the top 20 areas for most rapid growth through 2017.
- Despite these trends, the healthcare sector only added 15,000 in October, down from its average of 17,000 jobs per month for the first 10 months a year and two-month average of 21,000 jobs.
Dive Insight:
Clearly, healthcare service positions are in great demand and should continue to be for the next four years at least. What's more, it's possible that demand will be even higher than expected if enough consumers become insured under the ACA. In the mean time, it looks like the industry may have trouble filling the support positions required to keep things running as is. If the ACA drives up demand for healthcare services generally, above the predicted levels, there may be some serious shortages.