A Message from Dean Gloria Donnelly
January 19, 2016
New employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show the impact of the national movement to improve health and care delivery. Over the next 10 years, health care occupations will be the leading source of job creation in the United States. The health care sector and social services sector will account for nearly 40% of the net increase in employment through 2024, adding 3.8 million jobs. Wow!
The 10-year forecast also highlights important increases in specific health professions.
- The nurse practitioner occupation is expected to grow at an extraordinary rate of 35% -- that is five times that of the overall rate of growth in employment in the nation’s economy. 45,000 jobs will be added. As home and office delivery of services becomes increasingly important in health care, much of this gain will be in the ambulatory care sector.
- The demand for new RNs is also high, with a projected 16% rise in employment adding about 440,000 new positions and accounting for about half of all health diagnosing and treatment job gains.
- Physician Assistants are expected to see employment rise by 31%, adding about 28,000 jobs over the decade.
- Physical Therapy employment is projected to grow by 72,000 jobs over the decade, representing a 34% rate of growth.
As we start a new year full of new resolutions, I encourage everyone to reflect on their career aspirations. You are a part of a phenomenal industry with more opportunity than most. I commend you all for choosing professions in the health care sector, and I look forward to seeing the innovations and improvements in health care this increase in labor force will allow.
Begin your winter term knowing you made a good decision that will afford you a sound future.
Gloria F. Donnelly, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCPP
Dean and Professor