Physician Offices Projected to See Significant Job Growth Over the Next Decade

The number of physicians, administrators and allied health professionals employed by medical practices is expected to increase substantially from 2008 to 2018. Hospital employment will grow more slowly, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.
Experts are concerned that these projections will mean that current shortages of doctors and nurses will get worse.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a division of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, projected on Dec. 10, 2009, that from 2008 to 2018 the civilian labor force will grow by 12.6 million and total employment will increase by approximately 15.3 million jobs. Health care and social assistance will add approximately 4 million positions, with 772,200 of these in physician offices. About 109,300 of these new jobs will be for physicians, and 106,500 for registered nurses. In addition, 107,600 additional medical assistants will be needed, along with 248,700 office and administrative support positions.

Hospital job growth is expected to continue, but on a more modest scale. Hospitals will add 571,000 staff over the next decade, including 274,200 registered nurses, but only 9,600 physicians and surgeons, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects.

Read the full article in American Medical News, or click here:

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/01/11/bil20111.htm