Officials in Michigan say that while healthcare jobs are on the rise in the state, a postsecondary degree on a resume may be essential for landing a top-notch job in the industry. According to Lansing State Journal, a new report by Capital Area Michigan Works, health care is currently providing more job opportunities than any other sector in the state, adding almost 20,000 jobs in 2009 alone. State officials told the publication that the average wage for a health care professional in Michigan is slightly more than $48,000, which is about 25% higher than the overall private sector wage. Doug Stites, head of Capital Area Michigan Works, told WKAR News that education beyond high school will be a necessity for many of these higher paying jobs. "Those that get education and skills are going to have a pretty easy path in the 21st century," Stites told the news agency. "You're going to live the middle class life; you're going to have a good standard of living. Positions in the health care sector include nursing, dental assistants, clinical laboratory technicians and pharmacists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that overall job opportunities in healthcare are expected to grow by 22% through the end of the decade. |