Layoffs have continued so far this year with little end in sight, but those who work in the healthcare industry may feel somewhat secure by comparison.

Recently, a MarketWatch report cited information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that while a total of 2.6 million jobs were cut in the U.S. last year, the healthcare industry saw a net gain of 419,000.

The report went on to note that among the fastest growing occupations in the field, nursing led the way with 168,000 new jobs, while personal and home care aides also saw marked increases, with 64,000 new home healthcare aides alone in 2008.

For people who want to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, working as a personal or home healthcare aide tends to require little up-front training and can be a good way to prepare for future opportunities or for something like nursing or even medical school.

On its website, the BLS predicts a 51 percent jump in the need for personal and home care aides, one of the fastest such increases among any job title that can be found in the agency's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

"It's very versatile," healthcare author Dennis Damp told MarketWatch, "It's just that you need to look, and so many people don't."