Health care jobs are growing steady in 2012, according to federal data. In January and February of 2012, health care jobs accounted for 1 in 5 new positions. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the healthcare sector added 49,000 new jobs in February, with 28,200 health care jobs in ambulatory services and 15,400 hospital jobs. Last year, healthcare accounted for over 18 percent of all new jobs. No matter how the overall economy is faring, there is always a market for health care services.

Ambulatory Service Health Care Jobs

Physician’s offices and acute medical care providers accounted for 64 percent of new health care jobs in 2011, the BLS says, which ended up translating to 191,400 jobs last year – up from 166.100 jobs in 2010. As Baby Boomers continue to age and health care coverage expands, these positions are expected to grow even more in the coming years.

Information Technology Drives Health Care Jobs Growth

Clinical information technology systems are fueling significant hiring as medical centers upgrade their computer systems and manage data more efficiently. One organization hired nearly 400 people to install and manage these complex IT systems.

Hospitals Employ More Physicians

More physicians are looking to answer ads for health care jobs, rather than start their own private practices. Catholic Health Initiatives hired 1,000 additional physicians over the past 24 months, for example.

Administration Health Care Jobs Skyrocket

Administrators who understand federal mandates, risk / insurance models, and population management are in high demand right now.

According to BLS data:

-          Over 14.2 million people worked health care jobs in February.

-          4.8 million of those jobs were at hospitals.

-          6.2 million of those jobs were in ambulatory services (including 2.3 million doctor’s office positions).

-          The February growth in health care jobs represented 21.5 percent of the 227,000 jobs created overall.