From the bustling hospitals of California to the growing clinics of South Korea, the pulse of global healthcare employment is beating stronger than ever, with the U.S. sector alone adding over half a million jobs last year and setting the stage for millions more by the decade's end.
Key Takeaways
- In February 2024, U.S. healthcare and social assistance employment reached 21.62 million, up 52,000 from the previous month
- Healthcare employment in the U.S. grew by 463,000 jobs in 2023, representing a 2.2% increase year-over-year
- From 2021 to 2022, healthcare sector jobs increased by 6.1% to 20.4 million workers nationwide
- Registered nurses numbered 3.5 million employed in U.S. healthcare in 2023
- Physicians and surgeons total employment was 816,900 in May 2023 U.S.
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed 657,000 in 2023 U.S.
- U.S. mean annual wage for registered nurses was $89,010 in May 2023
- Physicians and surgeons median wage reached $239,200 annually in May 2023 U.S.
- Nurse practitioners average salary $128,490 per year in 2023 U.S.
- 78% of U.S. healthcare workers are women as of 2023
- Median age of U.S. registered nurses is 46 years in 2022
- 56% of U.S. physicians are men, 44% women in 2023
- U.S. healthcare employment projected to grow 12% by 2032, adding 1.8 million jobs
- RN employment expected to increase 6% from 2023 to 2033, 193,100 new jobs U.S.
- Home health aide jobs to grow 22% by 2032, fastest occupation U.S.
Healthcare employment is growing rapidly worldwide due to increasing demand.
Future Projections
- U.S. healthcare employment projected to grow 12% by 2032, adding 1.8 million jobs
- RN employment expected to increase 6% from 2023 to 2033, 193,100 new jobs U.S.
- Home health aide jobs to grow 22% by 2032, fastest occupation U.S.
- Physician assistant positions projected up 27% 2023-2033 U.S.
- Nurse practitioner jobs to rise 38% by 2032, 123,600 openings U.S.
- Medical and health managers growth 28% projected 2023-2033 U.S.
- Physical therapist jobs up 15% by 2032, 37,000 new U.S.
- Occupational therapist employment to grow 12% 2023-2033 U.S.
- Speech-language pathologist projected 19% growth by 2032 U.S.
- EMT/paramedic jobs to increase 5% 2023-2033, 34,700 new U.S.
- Nursing assistant employment up 4% by 2032, 82,000 jobs U.S.
- Medical assistants projected 14% growth 2023-2033 U.S.
- Licensed practical nurses to grow 5% by 2032, 58,800 new U.S.
- Dental hygienists employment up 7% 2023-2033 U.S.
- Radiologic tech jobs projected 6% growth by 2032 U.S.
- Respiratory therapists to increase 13% 2023-2033 U.S.
- Pharmacist employment down 2% projected by 2032 U.S.
- Physician jobs to grow 3% 2023-2033, 24,600 new U.S.
- Clinical lab tech growth 5% by 2032, 24,200 jobs U.S.
- Dental assistants up 8% projected 2023-2033 U.S.
- Surgical technologists to grow 5% by 2032, 9,100 new U.S.
- Optometrists employment up 9% 2023-2033 U.S.
- Dietitians projected 7% growth by 2032 U.S.
- Global healthcare worker shortage projected at 10 million by 2030
- U.S. healthcare openings expected 2.1 million annually through 2031
- Aging population to drive 16% U.S. healthcare job growth 2022-2032
Future Projections Interpretation
While the outlook is promising for most, these projections paint a picture of a healthcare system desperately trying to staff up for an aging population, where the management and advanced practitioner roles are sprinting ahead while the essential bedside and support roles, frankly, need to pick up the pace.
Occupational Employment
- Registered nurses numbered 3.5 million employed in U.S. healthcare in 2023
- Physicians and surgeons total employment was 816,900 in May 2023 U.S.
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses employed 657,000 in 2023 U.S.
- Medical and health services managers: 510,300 jobs in May 2023 U.S.
- Home health and personal care aides: 4.0 million employed in 2023 U.S.
- Nursing assistants employed 1.4 million in U.S. 2023
- Dental assistants: 330,600 jobs in May 2023 U.S.
- Pharmacists employment totaled 312,500 in 2023 U.S.
- Physical therapists: 238,200 employed in May 2023 U.S.
- Medical assistants: 403,000 jobs in 2023 U.S.
- Radiologic technologists and technicians: 203,800 in May 2023 U.S.
- Dental hygienists employed 213,000 in 2023 U.S.
- Speech-language pathologists: 168,900 jobs in May 2023 U.S.
- Occupational therapists: 133,900 employed in 2023 U.S.
- Nurse practitioners: 266,100 in May 2023 U.S.
- Physician assistants: 153,400 jobs in 2023 U.S.
- EMTs and paramedics: 261,300 employed in May 2023 U.S.
- Optometrists: 41,200 in 2023 U.S.
- Respiratory therapists: 134,000 jobs in May 2023 U.S.
- Clinical laboratory technologists: 249,200 employed in 2023 U.S.
- Massage therapists: 92,300 in May 2023 U.S.
- Phlebotomists estimated at 130,000 jobs in 2023 U.S.
- Dietitians and nutritionists: 73,800 employed in May 2023 U.S.
- Athletic trainers: 28,900 jobs in 2023 U.S.
- Surgical technologists: 111,200 in May 2023 U.S.
- Veterinary technologists: 118,800 employed in 2023 U.S.
- Medical records specialists: 366,100 jobs in May 2023 U.S.
- Licensed vocational nurses in California: 90,000 employed in 2023
Occupational Employment Interpretation
Behind the staggering 4 million aides and 3.5 million registered nurses stands a vast, intricate, and heroically over-caffeinated human lattice holding up the entire teetering Jenga tower of American healthcare.
Total Employment and Growth
- In February 2024, U.S. healthcare and social assistance employment reached 21.62 million, up 52,000 from the previous month
- Healthcare employment in the U.S. grew by 463,000 jobs in 2023, representing a 2.2% increase year-over-year
- From 2021 to 2022, healthcare sector jobs increased by 6.1% to 20.4 million workers nationwide
- Global healthcare workforce numbered 59 million in 2019, projected to grow to 65 million by 2030
- U.S. healthcare employment accounted for 14.3% of total nonfarm payrolls in 2023
- Healthcare and social assistance added 1.8 million jobs from February 2020 to February 2024
- In the EU, healthcare employment rose 1.5% annually from 2018 to 2022, reaching 25 million workers
- U.S. nursing and residential care facilities employed 4.2 million in 2023, up 1.9% from 2022
- Ambulatory health care services sector grew to 8.9 million employees in 2023
- Hospitals in the U.S. employed 6.3 million workers as of 2023
- Healthcare employment in California reached 2.8 million in 2022, 15% of state workforce
- From 2019 to 2023, U.S. home health care employment surged 12.4% to 3.7 million
- UK NHS workforce expanded to 1.4 million in 2023, up 4% from 2022
- Canada’s healthcare employment hit 2.1 million in 2023, 11% of total jobs
- Australia healthcare sector employed 2.0 million in 2022, growing 3.2% annually
- India’s healthcare workforce was estimated at 5.6 million in 2022
- Brazil healthcare employment reached 4.8 million in 2021, up 8% post-pandemic
- Germany’s healthcare sector had 5.5 million employees in 2023
- Japan healthcare workforce numbered 8.9 million in 2022, 14% of total employment
- South Korea healthcare employment grew to 1.2 million in 2023, up 5.1%
- Mexico’s healthcare workers totaled 1.9 million in 2022
- South Africa healthcare employment was 1.1 million in 2023
- Russia healthcare sector employed 4.2 million in 2022
- France healthcare workforce reached 3.2 million in 2023, 12% growth since 2010
- Italy’s healthcare employment stood at 2.4 million in 2022
- Spain healthcare sector had 2.1 million workers in 2023, up 2.8%
- Netherlands healthcare employment grew to 1.5 million in 2023
- Sweden’s healthcare workforce was 0.7 million in 2022, 13% of employment
- Switzerland healthcare sector employed 0.6 million in 2023
- U.S. healthcare employment growth rate was 4.2% from 2022 to 2023, fastest among sectors
Total Employment and Growth Interpretation
While the world is busy getting sicker, the healthcare sector is thriving with the grim determination of a nurse holding a full bedpan, now employing over 21 million Americans who are sprinting just to keep up.
Wages and Salaries
- U.S. mean annual wage for registered nurses was $89,010 in May 2023
- Physicians and surgeons median wage reached $239,200 annually in May 2023 U.S.
- Nurse practitioners average salary $128,490 per year in 2023 U.S.
- Physician assistants median wage $130,020 in May 2023 U.S.
- Dentists general median annual wage $160,370 in 2023 U.S.
- Pharmacists average salary $136,030 yearly in May 2023 U.S.
- Medical and health services managers median $110,680 in 2023 U.S.
- Physical therapists mean wage $99,710 annually May 2023 U.S.
- Occupational therapists median $96,370 in 2023 U.S.
- Speech-language pathologists average $89,290 yearly May 2023 U.S.
- Licensed practical nurses median wage $59,730 in 2023 U.S.
- Nursing assistants mean hourly wage $17.84 in May 2023 U.S.
- Home health aides median annual $33,530 in 2023 U.S.
- Medical assistants average $41,480 yearly May 2023 U.S.
- Dental hygienists median wage $87,530 in 2023 U.S.
- Radiologic technologists mean $73,410 annually May 2023 U.S.
- Respiratory therapists median $77,960 in 2023 U.S.
- EMTs and paramedics average $47,580 yearly May 2023 U.S.
- Clinical lab technologists median $61,990 in 2023 U.S.
- Dental assistants mean wage $44,710 annually May 2023 U.S.
- Optometrists median $131,860 in 2023 U.S.
- Surgical technologists average $60,490 yearly May 2023 U.S.
- Phlebotomists median wage $43,660 in 2023 U.S.
- Dietitians median $69,680 annually May 2023 U.S.
- Medical records technicians mean $49,320 yearly 2023 U.S.
- California RN average salary $133,340 in 2023, highest state
Wages and Salaries Interpretation
While the paychecks in healthcare undeniably escalate with credentials, frontline compassion clearly doesn't subsidize the mortgage, as the life-saving hands that wipe the brow and lift the patient earn barely enough to keep their own lights on.
Workforce Demographics
- 78% of U.S. healthcare workers are women as of 2023
- Median age of U.S. registered nurses is 46 years in 2022
- 56% of U.S. physicians are men, 44% women in 2023
- 84% of nursing assistants in U.S. are women, 2023 data
- 19% of U.S. healthcare workers are Hispanic or Latino in 2023
- 12% of U.S. RNs hold doctoral degrees in 2022
- Average age of U.S. physicians is 52 years in 2023
- 62% of home health aides are Black or African American in 2023 U.S.
- 89% of U.S. nurse practitioners are women in 2023
- 45% of U.S. medical students are women in 2023 entering class
- 14% of U.S. dentists are from underrepresented minorities in 2022
- 76% of U.S. pharmacists are women in 2023
- Average tenure of U.S. nurses is 7.5 years in current role, 2023 survey
- 25% of U.S. healthcare workers aged 55+ in 2023
- 9% of U.S. RNs are male in 2022
- 37% of U.S. active physicians over age 60 in 2023
- 52% of U.S. PAs are women aged 35-44 in 2023
- 65% of U.S. allied health workers have associate degrees or less, 2023
- 22% of U.S. healthcare workforce is foreign-born in 2023
Workforce Demographics Interpretation
The U.S. healthcare system runs on the skilled, experienced, yet aging hands of women, while critical disparities in leadership, demographics, and educational paths reveal a sector still struggling to reflect the nation it serves.
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