Health Care Jobs Now and Into the Future
February 24, 2026According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy is projected to add 5.2 million new jobs from 2024 to 2034. The healthcare and social assistance sector is projected to have the largest job growth at 1.98 million nationally and will also be the fastest growing industry sector (+8.4%). This industry sector includes individual and family services, home health care services, hospitals, outpatient care centers, offices of other health practitioners, and offices of physicians.
The major factors contributing to the projected increase of health care and social assistance jobs include:
- Increased demand for care as the population ages
- Longer life expectancies
- Increasing prevalence of chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes
Oregon’s Health Care Industry Projected to Grow
Oregon’s industry projections show that the health care and social assistance industry is expected to grow by 13% between 2024 and 2034, adding 40,400 new jobs – much faster than the 6% growth rate for all industries.
Many of the fastest-growing occupations are in health care as new technology emerges and demand for services grows. The Oregon Employment Department estimates health care occupations will grow by 13.3%, adding 29,012 new jobs in the next decade. Over this period, replacement openings for health care workers who retire or move into other occupations is expected to be seven times as high with 206,716 replacement job openings expected from 2024-2034. Four out of the ten fastest-growing occupations with at least 1,000 jobs in 2024 require only post-secondary training or less.
| Occupation | Percent Change | Employment Growth | Replacement Openings | 2025 Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioners | 48.0% | 1,269 | 1,418 | $73.10 |
| Physician Assistants | 30.7% | 643 | 1,173 | $75.14 |
| Psychiatric Technicians | 28.1% | 464 | 1,546 | $26.23 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 27.6% | 406 | 2,118 | $25.78 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 24.7% | 204 | 1,304 | $33.45 |
| Veterinarians | 23.7% | 412 | 465 | $59.75 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 19.6% | 273 | 740 | $52.02 |
| Medical Assistants | 19.0% | 2,341 | 16,025 | $25.28 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 17.6% | 7,353 | 66,617 | $21.24 |
| Speech-Language Pathologists | 16.8% | 312 | 1,047 | $52.08 |
Health Care Jobs of the Future
Health care is a rapidly changing industry. The industry is consistently on the cutting edge of new technology, new research, and rapid innovation. Technology and demand for services are transforming the industry. Health care will continue to incorporate many new technologies like expanded electronic records, robotic surgeries, and prosthetics you can move with your mind.
One medical advancement that is gaining momentum is telemedicine. This advancement is a tool to provide virtual care in underserved areas and places where demand for specialists is especially high. Telemedicine can also be used to monitor patients with chronic illnesses and save lives.
With health care constantly evolving, many jobs in health care did not exist just a few years ago and a number of new occupations are currently being created. Here is a selection of seven health care jobs that may be in high demand in the near future according to Healthcare Recruiter, a career guidance resource.
1. Telemedicine Nurses and Physicians and Remote Care Specialists
The growth in telemedicine is changing the way healthcare is delivered. Many patients now have the option to access care from the comfort of their homes by connecting with healthcare providers by video, phone, or mobile applications. Healthcare providers who specialize in delivering health care through virtual platforms are now in high demand, especially in rural and underserved communities. Telemedicine physicians and nurses must adapt their clinical skills to the digital environment by offering diagnoses, prescriptions, and follow-up care remotely. Telehealth coordinators manage the operations of telemedicine by ensuring this technology runs smoothly and patient data is secure.
2. Healthcare Data Analysts
Healthcare data analysts use large datasets to identify trends and improve treatment outcomes. As healthcare systems become more digitized, there is an increasing demand for professionals who can use large datasets to improve patient care. Two emerging occupations are clinical data analysts who work closely with healthcare providers to analyze patient data, and population health managers who focus on specific populations by identifying health risks, tracking outcomes, and designing preventive strategies.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Specialists
AI is transforming healthcare by automating tasks, improving diagnostic tools, and personalizing patient care. Two emerging occupations in this field include AI-powered diagnostics specialists who use AI systems to analyze medical images such as MRIs and X-rays, and AI healthcare developers who create AI tools and algorithms to improve patient outcomes, streamline processes, and reduce the cost of healthcare.
4. Robotic Surgery Technicians
Robotic-assisted surgery is radically changing the way surgical procedures are performed. Surgeons can now achieve more precision, make smaller incisions, and show quicker recovery times for patients. As robotic surgery becomes more common, there will be increasing demand for technicians who can operate and maintain robotic surgical systems. Two emerging occupations in this field include robotic surgery assistants who work with surgeons to operate robotic systems during procedures, and robotic equipment maintenance specialists who maintain and repair robotic surgical systems to ensure they remain in top operating condition.
5. Genetic Counselors and Genomics Experts
The role of genetic counselors and genomics experts is expanding as precision medicine and genomics advances. Genetic counselors provide counseling to patients about genetic testing and inherited conditions in order to make informed healthcare decisions. Genomic data scientists analyze genomic data to identify genetic markers related to diseases which can lead to more targeted treatments and prevention.
6. Health Informatics Specialists
Health informatics focuses on healthcare and information technology and manages healthcare data and systems. Health information managers oversee the management and security of patient records to make patient data accessible to healthcare providers. Electronic health records specialists implement and customize electronic health records for specific clinical needs.
7. Chronic Disease and Aging Care Coordinators
The need for care coordinators is growing as the aging population increases and chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses grow. Chronic disease and aging care coordinators help manage patients’ long-term care by working with various healthcare providers to guarantee comprehensive and coordinated treatment plans and help elderly patients navigate complex healthcare systems.
The Future of the Health Care Industry and AI
Over the next 50 years, healthcare across the world is expected to change, including an increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. In the medium term,10-30 years, an improvement of data-informed personalization in healthcare is expected. This type of medicine uses a patient’s own personal data to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases.
According to the JAMA Summit Report on Artificial Intelligence, AI is now changing how health and health care services are provided and managed. While many AI tools are already widely used by the healthcare industry such as medical imaging, mobile health, and healthcare business operations, AI is expected to change how and when individuals seek care and how health care providers interact with patients, establish diagnoses, and provide and monitor treatments.
The effect of AI on health care workers will probably be profound and widespread and will require the workforce to significantly improve their AI literacy. Health care professionals will need to participate in an environment that requires continuous learning, improvement, and an industry that will require their contributions to improve the development and performance of AI in health care.
According to a recent study, AI in Health Care: 26 Leaders Offer Predictions for 2026, more hospitals and healthcare agencies have been incorporating AI into their systems and many healthcare leaders predict this trend to accelerate in the years ahead. A few quotes from leaders in this study include:
- “The combination of AI plus analytics will empower organizations to harness data and unlock unprecedented visibility, accelerate decision-making, and create intelligent systems that continuously learn and adopt.”
- “The organizations that win won’t be the ones deploying the most AI, but the ones using it to actually understand people, close gaps before they appear, and make care feel intuitive and personalized, as it should be, instead of overwhelming.”
- “AI in healthcare will reduce time spent hunting for data, actively uncover overlooked insights, and suggest evidence-based treatment pathways. Clinicians will be empowered to focus on judgement and patient interaction, while AI handles the tedious and error-prone details.”
- “Today, 77% of healthcare professionals lose time due to incomplete or inaccessible date, and nurses spend 15-20 minutes every hour on administrative tasks. In 2026, AI’s greatest opportunity lies in automating time-consuming managerial work, sharing the right data at the right time, and reducing cognitive burden.”
Read more about recent trends in Oregon’s health care industry in the report Growing Demand and Workforce Needs in Oregon’s Health Care and Social Assistance Sector.