Some of the fastest-growing occupations in New York between 2016 and 2026 are expected to be positions found in senior living communities and other healthcare settings, according to an annual report on trends in the healthcare workforce in New York.
“The Health Care Workforce in New York State: Trends in the Supply of and Demand for Health Care Workers,” from the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany School of Public Health, reviewed healthcare employment trends in New York, identifies the healthcare professions and occupations in greatest demand and is meant to guide healthcare workforce policies, including decisions related to education and job training programs.
Some of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations statewide, according to the authors, are projected to be home health aide (52.4%), physician assistant (43.4%), nurse practitioner (41.6%) and personal care aide (40.6%). Overall, the report found that jobs in all healthcare settings are growing, especially in ambulatory care settings and home health care.
In 2018, healthcare jobs were found in hospitals (38%), ambulatory care settings (29%), home healthcare (20%), and residential care facilities, such as assisted living, and nursing homes (13%), according to the report.
Among the key findings:
- Jobs in all healthcare settings in New York are growing, especially in ambulatory care (7.2%) and home healthcare (52.2%).
- Healthcare employment in New York City grew by 16% between 2014 and 2018. Outside of New York City, Long Island had the highest job growth at 12.7%, followed by the Hudson Valley (7.5%) and Finger Lakes (7%) regions.
- RN graduations continue to grow in New York state, driven by an increase in baccalaureate (BSN) graduations.
- Nearly 1,500 nurse practitioners graduated from state schools in 2017 — an 84.4% increase since 2013. Medical assistant program graduations and certifications saw a 37.2% decline.
- Nurse practitioners and physician assistants saw the greatest growth in licenses between 2015 and 2019 (28.8% and 22.4%, respectively). In contrast, clinical laboratory technologies and clinical laboratory technicians declined by 10.5% and 12.1%, respectively.
New York State reported nearly 1.2 million healthcare jobs in 2018 — a 3% increase from 2017. Since 2000, jobs in healthcare in the state have increased by nearly 39%, compared with an 8% increase in jobs in other employment sectors.
The future outlook for healthcare jobs depends on a number of factors. Among the most significant influences affected the demands for healthcare workers:
- A shifting focus of the healthcare delivery system to primary care and prevention.
- Increased use of team-based service delivery models.
- Increased attention on population health, especially chronic disease management.
- An aging population.
- Modified scopes of practice due to regulatory changes.
- New categories of workers who assist in the delivery and management of care.
- Technology.
- Increased numbers of integrated service delivery systems, including accountable care organizations.
- Value-based payment models.
