Finding a Job in 2009 is…
Physical Therapists in High Demand
…really, really tough.
As most of you know by now, I’m a Recruiter by day. The past several months have been a literal nightmare for millions of people who have lost jobs in the U.S. It’s been heartbreaking to see and speak with so many people who are out of work not by their own choice. These people are all hard-working and industrious, but because of the greed and poor decisions of others, they are now struggling to survive.
Today I spoke with a candidate who studied business in college, worked in sales for many years, but was laid off last year and is struggling to find a new job in a state with a depressed economy. Because I do a lot of recruiting in the healthcare industry, he asked me if it was a good idea to maybe go back to school to pursue a degree in some field of healthcare. I suggested that if he had a real interest in this field, there certainly are many job opportunities in certain areas of healthcare.
Although there are no guarantees of anything lasting forever, I can say that the healthcare field, in general, will always be an area that will be in high demand for, well…as long as we live. And as a front lines Recruiter, I can clearly see there is a huge shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in the fields of nursing, rehabilitation therapy (i.e, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology), and healthcare informatics / technology.
But more than the need for healthcare workers is the need for healthcare workers in rural areas. Many of the facilities that I work with are in rural parts of the United States. Here is where the true demand is. While many cities that grew too fast and are now faced with a down economy, the healthcare needs in rural America still remain.
Perhaps a down economy and a shift away from consumerism will help this need. Maybe some healthcare workers who are finding the job market in the cities no longer desirable will consider relocating to areas that are a bit slower-paced, but where perhaps their skills will be valued more.
There’s no doubt that 2009 will be a year of changes for many. But amidst the cutbacks, downsizing, and layoffs, there are windows of opportunity. These windows may be small at times, but if we are vigilant, we can find them.
Here’s one of my favorite quotes by Mark Victor Hansen, the Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker and Chicken Soup for the Soul Author:
It doesn’t matter what is happening to the economy, government or your industry; it matters what is going on in your imagination. If you’ve got a rich imagination you’re going to have a rich experience.
May we all have a rich experience in 2009.
