The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment in the healthcare and social assistance sector will grow 9.7% from 2022 to 2032, primarily driven by the aging population and increasing prevalence of chronic conditions. This is three times as fast as the average job growth for the overall U.S. economy.
Specifically, the sector is projected to add 2.1 million jobs over the decade, which represents the most jobs added by any sector and about 45 percent of all the projected job gains during that period, according to the bureau.
Here are 19 healthcare occupations and their projected growth from 2022 to 2032:
Nurse practitioners: 44.5%
Medical and health services managers: 28.4%
Physician assistants: 26.5%
Physical therapist assistants: 26.1%
Occupational therapy assistants: 24%
Home health and personal care aides: 21.7%
Speech-language pathologists: 19.3%
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors: 18.4%
Massage therapists: 18.3%
Physical therapists: 15.1%
Hearing aid specialists: 14.5%
Occupational therapists: 11.5%
Clinical and counseling psychologists: 11.4%
Audiologists: 10.6%
Mental health and substance abuse social workers: 10.6%
Psychiatric technicians: 9.7%
Chiropractors: 8.8%
Social and human service assistants: 8.6%
Acupuncturists: 5.3%