Profession
Medical and physician assistants among fastest-growing jobs
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 5, 2004
The medical assistant is projected to become the fastest-growing occupation in the Untied States between 2002 and 2012, according to employment projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Physician assistants are expected to be the third-fastest-growing group during that period.
The bureau predicts the number of medical assistant jobs will grow 59%, and PA jobs will rise 49% during the span. Total U.S. employment is projected to rise by 15%.
The bureau, which released its projections in February, estimates there were 365,000 medical assistant jobs in 2002, and predicts those jobs will increase to 579,000 in 2012. During the same period, PA jobs are expected to increase from 63,000 to 94,000.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/04/05/prbf0405.htm.