Healthcare Adds 29,000 Jobs
Although the healthcare industry continues to thrive, the overall national unemployment rate is even higher than expected, having increased to 10.2 percent in October, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 190,000 jobs were lost, bringing the country to its highest unemployment rate since 1983. The biggest job losses were in retail, manufacturing in construction.
Yet again, the most positive numbers were in the healthcare industry, which gained 29,000 jobs in October. Additionally, the healthcare industry has added a total of 597,000 jobs since the beginning of the recession. "One of the few industries where employment continued to grow during the recession has been health care," stated Keith Hall, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nice to know that the healthcare is expanding and hiring, but what this means for many is that re-training and healthcare-specific education is essential. How can anyone who is out of work afford to return to school to get trained in a field in which they have no previous experience?
Angela, yours is a common question, or concern amongst many job-seekers lately. The growth figures being seen in healthcare are not to say that it’s “easy” for anyone to find a job – you are correct in that one must have the training and education required. However, there are some jobs that don’t require advanced training (although they don’t pay as much as advanced roles) but there are some options for those looking to break into the industry. And the job data is good news for those who are already qualified for health care jobs; they can feel relatively secure in their positions as well. Here is a link to some information about medical jobs that do not require a specialized degree: Do I Need a College Degree? I hope that helps a bit, and thanks again for sharing your thoughts.