Best Careers in Healthcare for Women in 2020

As the population continues to grow and age, the demand in the healthcare field will continue to grow. The current health workforce is mostly composed of women and with the increasing demand in the healthcare field; it is a trend that is likely to continue. However, the healthcare industry is vast with many positions and opportunities. It can be difficult to determine just what kind of career is worth stepping into.

Here are the top 5 best healthcare careers for women in 2020 with the most promising job outlook:

1. Personal Care Aides

Also known as “home health aides”, personal care aides work in both private and commercial facilities to assist clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses or cognitive impairments in their day to day lives. This might include job responsibilities such as aiding in bathing, dressing, assisting with errands or preparing meals. While this career path is often considered an “entry level” job, it is expected for the demand of personal care aides to increase as much as 36% over the next few years (one of the highest in-demand jobs).

Typically, most personal care aides need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Depending on your state there might be additional requirements such as passing a competency evaluation.

2. Massage Therapist

If you would like to develop a “healing touch” then massage therapy might be the job for you. With a 22% predicted job growth, this promising career is likely to continue to be sought-after as the benefits of massage are studied. Massage therapists can work in a variety of settings such as physician offices, hotels, fitness centers or in clients’ homes.

Before you get your hands on a client, you’ll need to complete a massage therapy education program which may involve completing between 300 and 1,000 hours of training. This training will prepare you to take the entry-level massage therapist licensing exam called the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).

3. Physical Therapist

Sometimes known as “PTs”, Physical Therapists assist in helping injured or ill people improve their body’s movements and managing pain. Physical Therapists play a vital role in rehabilitation and treatments for chronic conditions. As the baby boomer generation continues to age and rate chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes increase, the demand for Physical Therapists will continue to grow at a predicted rate of 22%.

For this career, you can expect to be licensed based on your state’s requirements as well as passing the National Physical Therapy Examination as administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

4. Phlebotomist

One of the first steps for a diagnosis is a blood draw, so it is no secret that the demand for Phlebotomists is expected to raise a whopping 23% in the next few years. It is a Phlebotomist’s job to draw blood for testing, transfusions and to interact with patients.

Phlebotomists typically carry a postsecondary non-degree from a phlebotomy program such as from a community college or a vocational school. Most times these kinds of programs take less than a year and certification can be earned through many organizations such as National Healthcare Association (NHA), National Phlebotomy Association or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

5. Medical Assistant

There is no more versatile position than that of a medical assistant. Tasked with completing administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals, offices and other healthcare facilities, it is very easy to see that the job outlook is growing much faster than average.

The majority of medical assistants carry a postsecondary education, while others may enter with a high school diploma and learn become certified through on-the-job training. There are many community colleges, vocational schools and technical schools offering medical assisting programs that can be completed in a single year (or two years for an associate’s degree).

The healthcare field is a promising line of work since where there are people, there is illness. As the numbers of females in the workforce continues to grow, so does the need to fulfill the roles and demands of a growling society. With a promising job outlook in a line of work that fulfills the desire to help those in need, the demand for these careers is likely to increase in the years to come.