Death, Taxes, and Health Care

Interestingly enough, all three of these employment trends eventually died out to the extent that there are not nearly the job opportunities today as there were in days gone by. Yet there is one industry that hasn't changed -- an industry as reliable as death and taxes. That industry is healthcare.

As long as there are people living on the planet, there will be available healthcare jobs for the taking. Let's face it: People get sick and/or injure themselves in accidents. Without a thriving healthcare industry, we would be in a world of hurt.

Fastest Growing Industry

According to data from the U.S. government, healthcare jobs are among the fastest-growing in the country. As a matter fact, if you remove government jobs from the equation, the healthcare industry promises the greatest amount of growth over the course of the next 10 to 20 years. On average, the government estimates most healthcare jobs will see a total employment increase of nearly 25 percent through the year 2020.Some medical jobs will see greater growth than others, of course, but the healthcare industry is a stable one.

While double digit growth is a good thing for the industry, there is a downside in that there aren't enough students entering medical school to fill all the positions projected to be open. That's one of the main reasons why there continues to be a drastic shortage of qualified workers to fill all the available healthcare jobs. Medical facilities are literally begging for workers and willing to allow them to virtually write their own ticket if they'll come to work. No other industry has ever seen anything like it.

So Many Options

Young students thinking of entering the medical field have so many options it can be daunting at times. For example, a high school student not interested in pursuing 10 years of education can choose among a number of certification programs that will allow him to land entry-level healthcare jobs like a certified nurse assistant, dialysis technician or home health aide. For many of these entry-level positions, certifications can be earned in 3-12 months.

Workers interested in nursing can begin as licensed practical nurses after completing just a two-year program. They can continue their education to become registered nurses, nurse practitioners and even physician assistants. And for those who want to go all out, there are all sorts of healthcare jobs for doctors ranging from general practitioners all the way up to the highest-paying surgical specialties.

With so many healthcare job options to choose from, all you need is a little bit of motivation and a proper education.