Healthcare workers comprised about 9% of the American workforce in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with 14.7 million people employed in this sector. The agency projects an average of 1.8 million healthcare job openings each year between 2022 and 2032.
But is healthcare a good career path? Based on factors like increasing employer demand, earning potential, and variety of roles, the answer is yes.
Anyone interested in preparing for a career in which they can help people get and stay healthy — in an area such as nursing, medical technology, or medical assisting — should explore the benefits of working in healthcare.
Where Do Healthcare Professionals Work?
The majority of healthcare professionals work in the private sector, at organizations like medical practices and hospitals, according to 2022 BLS data. About 90% of nurses work in private-sector roles.
But there are plenty of workplace options — in both the private sector and the government-supported public sector — beyond hospitals and physicians’ offices. Other workplace options for healthcare employees include:
Schools
Military bases
Assisted living facilities
Community clinics
Factories
Private homes
About 60% of registered nurses (RNs), for example, work in hospitals, while more than a third (35%) of licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) work in nursing and residential care facilities, according to the BLS.
7 Reasons Why Healthcare Is a Good Career Path
Working in healthcare can provide numerous benefits, from the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives to the wide variety of educational options and professional roles to pursue. Following are seven reasons why healthcare is a good career path.
1. Impactful Careers
Everyone working in healthcare plays a role in pursuing the ultimate goal of improving people’s well-being. Whether they are working directly with patients and their loved ones, leading community outreach, or supporting these efforts behind the scenes, all healthcare workers have the opportunity to contribute to a healthier society.
2. In-Demand Roles
The healthcare sector includes some of the most in-demand jobs in the U.S., and employment in health-related occupations is expected to grow much faster than the average for all industries between 2022 and 2032, according to BLS projections.
Medical assistants rank among the fastest-growing professions, with jobs projected to increase 14% over the decade. Employment of registered nurses, pharmacy technicians, and radiologic technologists is expected to grow by 6%, respectively. By comparison, the average job growth for all occupations tracked by the BLS is projected at 3% during the same period.
3. Earning Potential
A 2024 report from The Business Research Company projects that the value of the U.S. healthcare sector will be $9.8 billion by 2027. And a Forbes review of salaries in the U.S. in 2023 showed healthcare as one of the three highest-paying industries. So, while individual salaries vary significantly depending on factors like the person’s job, location, and education, the healthcare sector overall offers favorable salary growth potential.
4. Travel Opportunities
Healthcare is a universal need, which means job opportunities are available around the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects a shortfall of 10 million healthcare workers across a number of nations by 2030, which could make these roles a good option for those interested in traveling for work.
5. Career Choices
Not only do aspiring healthcare professionals have a variety of workplaces to choose from, but they also can follow a broad range of career paths. For example, depending on their interests and abilities, they might care for patients as a nurse, work in a support position as a surgical technologist, or pursue an administrative role at a medical facility.
6. Educational Options
The healthcare sector offers roles for people with nearly every level of educational attainment. For instance, individuals may choose to complete a postsecondary career training program to become a pharmacy technician, or they may seek an associate or bachelor’s degree to pursue an RN role.
7. Scheduling Alternatives
Because of the round-the-clock nature of providing healthcare, the sector offers jobs that fit nearly any preferred work schedule. Examples include lab technician roles that involve overnight shifts, medical office administration jobs that call for traditional business hours, and medical coding positions that allow for flexible hours.
Types of Healthcare Jobs
The variety of potential jobs is one of the reasons why healthcare is a good career path. Nursing, medical technology, and medical assisting each offer their own range of professional opportunities. Following are some examples of notable roles within these areas:
Nursing
Nurses, and registered nurses in particular, make up the largest segment of the healthcare workforce. In fact, RNs accounted for more than 1 out of every 5 healthcare employees in 2022, according to the BLS. Nurses’ roles can range from providing pediatric care to diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses in adults.
RNs care for patients, coordinate their treatment, and provide them with health education. But there are several other nursing career options.
For example, LPNs/LVNs provide basic medical care through tasks such as monitoring patients’ vital signs and documenting their health histories. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) whose higher-level responsibilities often are similar to those of physicians, depending on the state where they practice.
Medical Technologist and Technician
Some jobs for medical technologists and technicians require working directly with patients, while others are strictly behind-the-scenes roles.
For example, pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, often interacting directly with patients who are filling prescriptions and performing other administrative duties. Radiology technologists manage and operate imaging equipment and work with patients to obtain medical images that physicians use to diagnose illnesses and evaluate injuries.
Medical lab technicians support the efforts of those who interact with patients. They perform laboratory tests to help in preventing medical conditions and diagnosing and treating them.
Medical Assisting
Professionals in medical assisting roles provide critical administrative and clinical support in medical offices to ensure they operate smoothly.
For example, medical office administrators support clinical staff in a host of ways. Medical assistants handle both administrative and clinical duties, performing tasks that can range from setting appointments to drawing blood and operating X-ray equipment.
Medical coding professionals are responsible for assigning codes to various types of patient care for statistical and billing purposes.
Pursue the Benefits of a Healthcare Career
If you have determined that healthcare is a good career path for you, explore Fortis programs that can train you for the healthcare job that interests you:
Fortis offers a broad array of educational programs designed to prepare students for many of the key roles in healthcare. Learn how Fortis can help you pursue a rewarding career in healthcare today.
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