Occupational Therapy makes Headlines, yet again!


http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2013/01/03/n-occupational-therapy-low-unemployment.cnnmoney

OT has graced many headlines in the past: from raising public awareness about the practice and research, bunking/debunking the Autism and vaccinations “myths”, following the successful recovery of Gabby Giffords, to discovering the Ergo Wok (see link below).

 During the times when the drastically increasing unemployment rates are still plaguing the nation, one profession shows promise to those displaced workers looking for stability and higher salaries. CNN Money reports the Occupational Therapy profession as having one of the lowest unemployment rates: 2%. While nurses are waiting longer to retire resulting in longer waits for some graduates to enter the field and dental hygienists taking up to six to nine months to find work due to slacking demand, Occupational Therapy is reporting a staggering growth in the years to come. Here, just look at the following statistics:
  • In Nevada, occupational therapists can command a $95,000 mean salary, much higher than the national mean of $75,000, according to Senior Provost and CEO Michael Harter. 
  •  January 5, 2012: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care industries added 44,500 jobs in December, including 6,800 in physicians' offices; 2,900 in outpatient care occupational therapy and physical therapy centers; and 5,400 in home health services.                  
  •  January 7, 2013: By 2032, seniors (65+ years of age) are expected to account for one quarter of Canada’s population. This aging population will mean greater demands for nurses, personal support workers, occupational therapists and medical technologists. 
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor: Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 33 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. 
  • Best Healthcare Jobs of 2013 U.S. News: Its one of the occupations that's especially on the rise, with 33.5 percent growth expected between 2010 and 2020. 
  •  Brenda Lyman, OTR/L, program coordinator of the OTA Program at Salt Lake Community College in Utah, says her students receive offers before graduation, often as aides conditional to moving to an OTA position after becoming certified. Because state licensure restricts OTs from supervising more than two OTAs, Utah is also experiencing a shortage of OTs.
  • A look at the job market for OTs and OTAs: http://aota.org/Students/Prospective/Outlook/41193.aspx?FT=.pdf
  •  Occupational Therapy named one of the nation’s 150 best recession-proof jobs: http://aota.org/Students/Prospective/Outlook/OT-Recession-Proof-Jobs.aspx?FT=.pd
  • Occupational Therapy - One of the least stressful jobs, according to CNN Money: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0910/gallery.bestjobs_leaststress.moneymag/9.html
  •  Workforce Trends in Occupational Therapy: http://aota.org/Students/Prospective/Outlook/38231.aspx?FT=.pdf

 So, if you're thinking of a change in career read my post on "Now, What is Occupational Therapy, Really?" to get a better understanding. You might just find yourself packing up the business suits and donning sparkling new SCRUBS! I sure did.

 References:
* http://www.lvrj.com/employment/who-s-hiring-186676811.html?ref=811
* http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/growth-of-us-workforce-belies-nay-sayers-669084/#ixzz2Hsp62Taa
* http://canadianimmigrant.ca/work-and-education/trending-jobs-for-canadian-immigrants-in-2013
* http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm (visited January 13, 2013).
* http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-healthcare-jobs
*Ergo Wok: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2958871.htm

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