For the first time in history, healthcare is the largest source of US jobs, according to The Atlantic. In the final quarter of 2017, the healthcare industry surpassed retail and manufacturing in total employees. Three primary factors contribute to this shift: the aging US population, public subsidies of the healthcare industry, and healthcare’s resistance to the effects of automation and globalization.
The growth in healthcare employment shows no signs of stopping. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, five of the top ten fastest growing jobs in the next eight years will be in healthcare:
- Home health aides
- Personal care aides
- Physician assistants
- Nurse practitioners
- Physical therapist assistants
Source: Health Care Just Became the U.S.’s Largest Employer, The Atlantic; Employment Projections — 2016-26, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
