Healthcare jobs are expected to see steady growth in 2012 and beyond. As the number of baby boomers seeking care spikes, so will the number of vacancies. There are also many workers looking to retire, which opens up another labor shortage. The government’s healthcare mandates are also driving growth in this area, as more and more patients are being seen. In October 2011, the number of healthcare jobs rose to 14.19 million, adding 84,000 more hospital jobs and 173,000 more physician office, outpatient clinic and home health agency positions.

There is a great demand for healthcare jobs that emphasize local community care. Case Managers, Healthcare Information Specialists, Social Workers, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners and Home Health Aides are increasingly popular positions showing up on job boards.

Doctors, Nurses and Physician Assistants are also in high demand. Fewer people have been trained over the last decade and older professionals are looking to retire, which may create a huge gap if up-and-comers aren’t woven into the system soon. The American Nurses Association expects to see steady gains, but some of their work depends upon federal budgeting, which can be difficult to predict. Healthcare jobs in nursing seem to vary widely, depending on the region.

Physical Therapists enjoy some of the best job security because they are desperately needed everywhere. In some US markets, there are only five physical therapists within a 100-mile radius. Also, as of 2000, over 15 percent of the practicing therapists were 50-64 years old and nearing retirement. Unemployment for physical therapists was just 0.4 percent in 2010.

On the other hand, Imaging Technologist positions are on the decline, due in large part to improved technology. Job openings have dropped down to just 2 percent for Radiographers and CT Specialists. Also, the Medical Assistant position seems to be an overinflated sector that is being phased out in favor of more multi-faceted and skilled positions like Physician’s Assistant.