Canadians are getting older. Back in 1971, research showed that the median age in Canada was 26.2 years, but between then and now, our median age has skyrocketed to 40. Baby boomers are heading into retirement and families seem to be getting smaller.
By next year alone, the number of senior Canadian citizens could potentially exceed the number of Canadian children. And since this trend is expected to continue for at least a few decades, experts are forecasting a growing demand for healthcare professionals. If you’re drawn to a profession that focuses on helping others lead healthier lives, read on to find out which healthcare careers are expected to grow the fastest over the next several years.
Nursing
As our population of aging seniors grows, so does Canada’s demand for nurses. According to the Canadian Nurse Association, Canada is expected to be short 113,000 full-time, nurses by the time 2016 rolls around. Of course, nursing is not for everyone, as it is a very demanding career choice – both physically and emotionally. But if you can see yourself working alongside doctors and truly making a difference in patient’s lives, this is the right time to enrol in nursing courses – just in time for the employment shortage a couple of years from now.
Cardiology Technologist
As the importance of technology – especially within the healthcare sector – continues to grow, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the demand for qualified healthcare technologists will increase substantially as well. If you plan to pursue cardiology technician training in BC, you will learn the IT skills needed to conduct a wide range of diagnostic procedures (ECG, stress tests, event monitoring, etc.), along with relevant and marketable knowledge of the healthcare industry. With heart disease on the rise, well trained cardiology technologists will play an important role in Canada’s treatment and prevention strategy.
Medical Laboratory Assistant
If you’re thinking of pursuing medical laboratory assistant training, it looks like you’re leaning toward another in-demand healthcare career path. As their workload increases, medical laboratory technologists often need help performing sample analyses. Medical laboratory assistants have the training and knowledge needed to successfully sort, prepare, and process a variety of samples – freeing up the technologist to perform other duties. Only by working as a team can medical laboratory technologists and assistants fulfill the growing number of orders they’re receiving from busy hospitals and clinics.
Health Care Assistant
Our aging population speaks directly to the need for more home healthcare support, adult day care centers, and assisted living residences. And to meet these needs, B.C. is already in the process of opening thousands of new assisted living facilities – organizations that will require well trained healthcare assistants who will provide exceptional personal care and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Which healthcare career are you considering pursuing and why? Let us know in the comments.
![An ECG demonstrates the extensive antero-septal-lateral myocardial infarction [heart attack] that Taryn witnessed.](https://stenbergcollege.com/wp-content/smush-webp/2022/12/ecg-1024x530.jpg.webp)
