The currently high demand for employees in all areas of the healthcare sector has been prompting many people working in other industries to switch careers. Ultrasound technician Karen Magner told WFMY News 2 that she was happy to exchange her job in the automotive industry for one in a more buoyant field. "It's a difficult decision to make, but it has rewards. It can really pay off," she remarked, explaining that she decided to retrain after doing some research into different healthcare professions. Brie Floyd, a corporate recruiter for a health system, explained that there is "definitely a strong need for tons of different types of occupations", adding that many of these roles pay "great money". According to the latest data from the Department of Labor (DOL), healthcare is the largest industry in the US, providing 14 million jobs. Of these, 40% are located in hospitals, 21% in nursing and residential care facilities and 16% in physicians' offices. DOL statistics also reveal that the average earnings for nonsupervisory workers in the majority of healthcare areas are greater than the average throughout private industry, with those working in hospitals often earning the most.  |