Employment growth in health care is expected to account for about 3.6 million new wage and salary jobs and 19% of all future wage and salary jobs added to the economy over the 2004-14 period. Many of the occupations projected to grow the fastest in the economy are concentrated in the health care industry. For example, from 2004-14, total employment of home health aides, including the self-employed, is projected to increase by 56%, medical assistants by 52%, physician’s assistants by 50%, and physical therapist assistants by 44%. The industry is currently seeking to increase the available labor pool of health care employees. To attract new employees to the health care industry, industry employers are focusing recruitment from non-traditional labor pools. Increasing the diversity of workers and reducing turnover rates is also of concern. 

Industry employers are focused on preparing entry-level workers for positions in health care. Efforts also include the expansion of access to training for incumbent workers and fulfilling workforce needs in targeted and specialized skill areas. To meet the training and recruitment needs of health care employees, the industry is seeking to expand the numbers of academic and clinical instructors and facilities and resources to facilitate training. The industry is working to align employer requirements and curriculum to fulfill more adequately the needs of health care employers, but a shortage in health care education programs remains that biggest obstacle to meeting these objectives.