It is a good idea for anyone who is planning to study public health to take a look at the employment outlook for the Public Health field first.
The health sector is one that is directly affected by new laws and the changing demographic in the country. Because of this, it is likely that policy changes can impact the outlook for professionals who would like to work at some capacity within the public health sector.
If you would like to know just what outlook is like today, read on and learn what you can expect in the near future.
The Projected Outlook in Community Health
One of the first things you can do to see the big picture is see what outlook looks like as projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is the government agency that reviews trends in the labor industry and updates the Occupational Outlook Handbook every year. Based on the statistics and the trends, it is projected that demand will grow by 13% for community health works and health educators. The handbook also says that more than 15,600 jobs will be created by 2024 for professionals experienced in this line of work. Compared to growth reported in the nation, this is faster than average.
Changes to Advances in the Field
While it is important to know that jobs are being created, it is also important that you look at the opportunity for growth within your own career. Since there are new jobs being created, there will be a demand for professionals with experience who can play supervisory, management or executive roles. Because of this, there will be an opportunity for growth for administrative professionals and for clinical professionals as well. This is a big reason why so many people are making the career transition from other non-related fields.
What Factors are Increasing the Demand for Public Health Professionals?
Now that you know outlook projections, it is important to know how different factors can affect the outlook. One of the biggest reasons why there is such a large demand for professionals in administrative and clinical public health roles is because of the aging population of Baby Boomers. Since there are better treatments and medical technologies, people are living longer. With a larger population of seniors come a larger need for public officials to care for them and treat them.
Another reason that public health is such a promising field is because of new legislation that makes healthcare more accessible. The affordable care act gives low and moderate income families access to care at a public level. Since there is legislation that makes it a requirement to hold health insurance, professionals who stay up to date with the laws are a must for institutions to comply.
If you would like to work in the public health field, it is important that you start to pursue a college education majoring in Public Health or another related area. Having your degree or professional certifications can help you garner attention in the highly competitive field. Be sure to compare all of the titles that you can hold and then you can decide which degree you want to earn and where you would like to work with the best employment outlook for the Public Health field.
