The Demand for these Healthcare Jobs is Increasing Most in Each State

Scrubs could become an essential part of the wardrobe for millions more Americans as healthcare jobs grow nationwide.

The aging U.S. population is rapidly increasing demand for many jobs in the health sector, which has become the fastest-growing part of the national economy. Although many medical jobs require advanced degrees—physicians, nurses, surgeons, etc.—the role growing fastest across most states is generally accessible to anyone with a high school diploma.

The job? Home health and personal care aides. The U.S. expects to add close to a million jobs in this profession over the next decade. These aides monitor and assist people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, including hospice. They often work in individuals’ homes, group homes, and day service programs. After Covid-19 devastated nursing homes, surveys have found fewer Americans are willing to live in them as they age. As a result, even more families may discover ways to use full-time or part-time in-home aides for end-of-life care.

An analysis including more than 70 other healthcare jobs projected all but three states to add the highest number of home health and personal care aides. In just three states—Colorado, Florida, and South Dakota—did registered nurse job growth outpace home health.

As a percentage of current jobs, roles seeing the most growth are slightly more varied. Most commonly, nurse practitioner jobs are growing the most among 40 of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. In Arizona, for instance, the volume of nurse practitioner jobs is expected to grow 100.8 percent over the decade—in other words, jobs will double. Massage therapist jobs are increasing fastest in six states, with the most significant change in New York at 75 percent growth. Medical assistants also experienced faster-than-average growth across many states.

These statistics provide insight into how jobs are changing relative to their current employment. However, they don’t shine as much light on which careers will offer the most job opportunities to future Americans.

To provide that insight to potential future healthcare workers across America, Medical Technology Schools identified the healthcare positions expected to add the most jobs in each state and Washington, D.C. from 2020 to 2030, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by Projections Central—the latest data available as of February 2024. States are listed alphabetically, and the top five healthcare positions (by the number of new jobs) are provided.