Healthcare jobs remain secure during U.S. economic decline

Many physicians and nurses who want to join our programs to work in the U.S. ask us: "Everyday I hear bad news about the U.S. economy, what if I cannot find work? Will I have job security in the U.S.?"

Our answer is clear: "Yes, you will find a job because IOC provides jobs to our graduates. And yes, working as a clinical healthcare professional is very secure, with exciting growth prospects. You can expect to increase not only your salary in the future, but also your professional horizons."

Healthcare is an industry that continues to grow, even if other sectors of the U.S. economy are suffering. Annual growth in healthcare continues to be 7%, and the U.S. government estimates 350,000 new healthcare jobs are created each year.

The reasons for continued strength in healthcare - and therefore job security - are threefold. The first reason is demographic: the U.S. population is both growing as well as aging, and older people require more medical services. Second, new therapeutic and hospital equipment technologies drive increased hospital visits; implementing these new technologies to help patients requires more, and better trained, clinical professionals. The third reason that the healthcare sector will remain strong is that both health insurers as well as medical practitioners must practice "defensive medicine" to help avoid the risk of medical malpractice lawsuits; physicians offer patients more services than are necessary so that, should a patient file a lawsuit, the physician cannot be accused of failing to offer all available therapies. This practice of "defensive medicine" is a key driver of ongoing growth in healthcare.

Finally, we also mention that many countries in Latin America, and elsewhere in the world, not only pay healthcare workers poorly, but are also experiencing reduced job security among physicians and nurses. Government jobs that once were secure are at risk as national healthcare systems border on the edge of bankruptcy. In addition, at least in Mexico, government hospitals refuse hire young physicians and nurses as employees, preferring to instead use temporary 6-month contracts that provide little job security, in addition to paying poorly.

In summary, while some sectors of the U.S. economy are contracting, healthcare is expanding, and clinical hospital jobs provide excellent pay and security. In contrast, job security among health professionals in other countries is deteriorating. As a result, working as a healthcare professional in the U.S. remains extremely attractive.