The healthcare sector in the United States is experiencing significant job growth and demand. Here are key points about the number of jobs available and job growth projections in healthcare:
- In 2023, the healthcare sector employed about 17.2 million people in the U.S. and created 653,000 new jobs, accounting for 24% of all new jobs in the economy that year
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that healthcare occupations will grow much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 2 million new healthcare job opportunities expected by 2031
- Employment in healthcare is expected to expand by approximately 13% from 2021 to 2031, driven by an aging population and increased demand for services
- Nurse practitioners and home health aides are among the fastest-growing roles, with nurse practitioner employment projected to grow by 44.5% from 2022 to 2032 and home health aide jobs increasing by over 800,000 in the same period
- In 2024 alone, the U.S. added 902,000 healthcare and social assistance jobs, more than double the number added in the government sector
- Monthly job additions in healthcare remain strong, with 43,700 new healthcare jobs added in January 2025, led by hospitals, nursing facilities, and home health services
- The healthcare industry anticipates about 1.9 million job openings annually combining new positions and replacement needs
Overall, healthcare is one of the largest and fastest-growing employment sectors in the U.S., with millions of jobs currently available and strong projected growth continuing through the next decade