| Health Care |
U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics
Health care industry
Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of
college education, but health diagnosing and treating
practitioners are among the most educated workers.
Health care industry
Most workers have jobs that require less than 4 years of
college education, but health diagnosing and treating
practitioners are among the most educated workers.
|
Nature of the Industry
Combining medical technology and the human touch, the
health care industry administers care around the clock,
responding to the needs of millions of people—from
newborns to the critically ill.
Industry organization. About 580,000 establishments make
up the health care industry; they vary greatly in terms of size,
staffing patterns, and organizational structures. Nearly 77
percent of health care establishments are offices of
physicians, dentists, or other health practitioners. Although
hospitals constitute only 1 percent of all health care
establishments, they employ 35 percent of all workers
The health care industry includes establishments ranging
from small-town private practices of physicians who employ
only one medical assistant to busy inner-city hospitals that
provide thousands of diverse jobs. In 2006, almost half of
non-hospital health care establishments employed fewer
than five workers. By contrast, 7 out of 10 hospital
employees were in establishments with more than 1,000
workers.
Combining medical technology and the human touch, the
health care industry administers care around the clock,
responding to the needs of millions of people—from
newborns to the critically ill.
Industry organization. About 580,000 establishments make
up the health care industry; they vary greatly in terms of size,
staffing patterns, and organizational structures. Nearly 77
percent of health care establishments are offices of
physicians, dentists, or other health practitioners. Although
hospitals constitute only 1 percent of all health care
establishments, they employ 35 percent of all workers
The health care industry includes establishments ranging
from small-town private practices of physicians who employ
only one medical assistant to busy inner-city hospitals that
provide thousands of diverse jobs. In 2006, almost half of
non-hospital health care establishments employed fewer
than five workers. By contrast, 7 out of 10 hospital
employees were in establishments with more than 1,000
workers.
The health care industry consists of the following nine
segments:
Hospitals. Hospitals provide complete medical care,
ranging from diagnostic services, to surgery, to continuous
nursing care
Nursing and residential care facilities. Nursing care
facilities provide inpatient nursing, rehabilitation, and health-
related personal care to those who need continuous
nursing care, but do not require hospital services. Nursing
aides provide the vast majority of direct care.
Offices of physicians. About 37 percent of all health care
establishments fall into this industry segment. Physicians
and surgeons practice privately or in groups of practitioners
who have the same or different specialties. Many physicians
and surgeons prefer to join group practices because they
afford backup coverage, reduce overhead expenses, and
facilitate consultation with peers. Physicians and surgeons
are increasingly working as salaried employees of group
medical practices, clinics, or integrated health systems.
Offices of dentists. About 1 out of every 5 health care
establishments is a dentist’s office. Most employ only a few
workers, who provide preventative, cosmetic, or emergency
care. Some offices specialize in a single field of dentistry
such as orthodontics or periodontics.
Home health care services. Skilled nursing or medical
care is sometimes provided in the home, under a physician’
s supervision. Home health care services are provided
mainly to the elderly. The development of in-home medical
technologies, substantial cost savings, and patients’
preference for care in the home have helped change this
once-small segment of the industry into one of the fastest
growing parts of the economy.
Offices of other health practitioners. This segment of the
industry includes the offices of chiropractors, optometrists,
podiatrists, occupational and physical therapists,
psychologists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists,
dietitians, and other health practitioners..
Outpatient care centers. The diverse establishments in
this group include kidney dialysis centers, outpatient mental
health and substance abuse centers, health maintenance
organization medical centers, and freestanding ambulatory
surgical and emergency centers.
Other ambulatory health care services. This relatively
small industry segment includes ambulance and helicopter
transport services, blood and organ banks, and other
ambulatory health care services, such as pacemaker
monitoring services and smoking cessation programs.
Medical and diagnostic laboratories. Medical and
diagnostic laboratories provide analytic or diagnostic
services to the medical profession or directly to patients
following a physician’s prescription.
segments:
Hospitals. Hospitals provide complete medical care,
ranging from diagnostic services, to surgery, to continuous
nursing care
Nursing and residential care facilities. Nursing care
facilities provide inpatient nursing, rehabilitation, and health-
related personal care to those who need continuous
nursing care, but do not require hospital services. Nursing
aides provide the vast majority of direct care.
Offices of physicians. About 37 percent of all health care
establishments fall into this industry segment. Physicians
and surgeons practice privately or in groups of practitioners
who have the same or different specialties. Many physicians
and surgeons prefer to join group practices because they
afford backup coverage, reduce overhead expenses, and
facilitate consultation with peers. Physicians and surgeons
are increasingly working as salaried employees of group
medical practices, clinics, or integrated health systems.
Offices of dentists. About 1 out of every 5 health care
establishments is a dentist’s office. Most employ only a few
workers, who provide preventative, cosmetic, or emergency
care. Some offices specialize in a single field of dentistry
such as orthodontics or periodontics.
Home health care services. Skilled nursing or medical
care is sometimes provided in the home, under a physician’
s supervision. Home health care services are provided
mainly to the elderly. The development of in-home medical
technologies, substantial cost savings, and patients’
preference for care in the home have helped change this
once-small segment of the industry into one of the fastest
growing parts of the economy.
Offices of other health practitioners. This segment of the
industry includes the offices of chiropractors, optometrists,
podiatrists, occupational and physical therapists,
psychologists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists,
dietitians, and other health practitioners..
Outpatient care centers. The diverse establishments in
this group include kidney dialysis centers, outpatient mental
health and substance abuse centers, health maintenance
organization medical centers, and freestanding ambulatory
surgical and emergency centers.
Other ambulatory health care services. This relatively
small industry segment includes ambulance and helicopter
transport services, blood and organ banks, and other
ambulatory health care services, such as pacemaker
monitoring services and smoking cessation programs.
Medical and diagnostic laboratories. Medical and
diagnostic laboratories provide analytic or diagnostic
services to the medical profession or directly to patients
following a physician’s prescription.
Recent developments. In the rapidly changing health care
procedures and methods of diagnosis and treatment
possible. Clinical developments, such as infection control,
less invasive surgical techniques, advances in reproductive
technology, and gene therapy for cancer treatment, continue
to increase the longevity and improve the quality of life of
many Americans. Advances in medical technology also have
improved the survival rates of trauma victims and the
severely ill, who need extensive care from therapists and
social workers as well as other support personnel.
Health care jobs are found throughout the country, but they
are concentrated in the largest States—in particular,
California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Workers in health care tend to be older than workers in other
industries. Health care workers also are more likely to
remain employed in the same occupation, in part because
of the high level of education and training required for many
health occupations.
Industry earnings. Average earnings of nonsupervisory
workers in most health care segments are higher than the
average for all private industry, with hospital workers earning
considerably more than the average and those employed in
nursing and residential care facilities and home health care
services earning less (table 4). Average earnings often are
higher in hospitals because the percentage of jobs requiring
higher levels of education and training is greater than in
other segments. Those segments of the industry with lower
earnings employ large numbers of part-time service workers.
Earnings vary not only by type of establishment and
occupation, but also by size; salaries tend to be higher in
larger hospitals and group practices. Geographic location
also can affect earnings.
procedures and methods of diagnosis and treatment
possible. Clinical developments, such as infection control,
less invasive surgical techniques, advances in reproductive
technology, and gene therapy for cancer treatment, continue
to increase the longevity and improve the quality of life of
many Americans. Advances in medical technology also have
improved the survival rates of trauma victims and the
severely ill, who need extensive care from therapists and
social workers as well as other support personnel.
Health care jobs are found throughout the country, but they
are concentrated in the largest States—in particular,
California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Workers in health care tend to be older than workers in other
industries. Health care workers also are more likely to
remain employed in the same occupation, in part because
of the high level of education and training required for many
health occupations.
Industry earnings. Average earnings of nonsupervisory
workers in most health care segments are higher than the
average for all private industry, with hospital workers earning
considerably more than the average and those employed in
nursing and residential care facilities and home health care
services earning less (table 4). Average earnings often are
higher in hospitals because the percentage of jobs requiring
higher levels of education and training is greater than in
other segments. Those segments of the industry with lower
earnings employ large numbers of part-time service workers.
Earnings vary not only by type of establishment and
occupation, but also by size; salaries tend to be higher in
larger hospitals and group practices. Geographic location
also can affect earnings.
citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Career Guide to Industries, 2008-09 Edition, Health Care
Career Guide to Industries, 2008-09 Edition, Health Care
As the largest industry in 2006,
health care provided 14 million
jobs—13.6 million jobs for wage
and salary workers and about
438,000 jobs for the self-
employed. 7 of the 20 fastest
growing occupations are health
care related.
Health care will generate 3
million new wage and salary
jobs between 2006 and 2016,
more than any other industry.
(continued below ...)
health care provided 14 million
jobs—13.6 million jobs for wage
and salary workers and about
438,000 jobs for the self-
employed. 7 of the 20 fastest
growing occupations are health
care related.
Health care will generate 3
million new wage and salary
jobs between 2006 and 2016,
more than any other industry.
(continued below ...)
|
