Down economy doesn't hurt healthcare workers' optimism

Despite a down economy and half of healthcare workers worrying there aren't enough jobs, most in the health industry still feel confident they still can find jobs, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Randstad Healthcare Employee Confidence Index.

In a survey released Monday of more than 230 physicians, administrators and other healthcare professionals, there was a sharp increase in the number of healthcare workers (43 percent) who said that the economy is weakening; that's up 27 percent since the first quarter. Only one-fifth of respondents think the economy is improving.

Even though half (49 percent) said there are fewer jobs out there, 51 percent said they are confident in their personal employability; 58 percent are confident in the future of their organization.

More than one-third (37 percent) of workers said they plan on looking for a new job within the year.

"The recent decision by the United States Supreme Court to uphold the healthcare reform legislation, formally called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA], all but ensures the future growth of the healthcare industry," Randstad U.S. Professionals' Executive Vice President Steve McMahan said in a statement.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the biggest job gains in healthcare are for registered nurses, personal care aides and medical assistants from 2007 to 2011, Forbes recently reported.

The nation needs 5.6 million new jobs by 2020 to meet the growing demand for care under health reform, according to a study from Georgetown University's Center on Education and Workforce published last month.

For more information:
- read the Randstad announcement
- see an infographic on Forbes

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