Strong. That’s the perfect description for the outlook of the nursing job market for upcoming years. As a nurse, the job search battle that most graduates face when entering the real world greatly diminishes. Why is the nursing industry so strong right now and how can you take advantage of this as you prepare to take on the role of an entry-level nurse? ATI Nursing Education shares statistics that explain.
“Over the next 20 years, the average age of the RN will increase and the size of the workforce will plateau as large numbers of RNs retire. Because demand for RNs is expected to increase during this time, a large and prolonged shortage of nurses is expected to hit the US in the latter half of the next decade.”
-Workforce Analyst Dr. Peter Buerhaus, 2008 Journal of the American Medical Association
Overall New Job Growth and Replacement Needs
- Nurse employment to increase from 2.86 million to 3.44 million jobs
- Total number of new RNs needed for new jobs and replacements: 1.13 million
According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
*Figures include RNs and APRNs for 2012 – 2022
Projected job growth by industry:
- Doctors’ Offices – 48%
- Home Health Services – 33%
- Nursing Care Facilities – 25%
- Employment Services – 24%
- Hospitals, public and private – 17%
According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current RNs projected to retire/leave labor force: 555,100.
According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
*Figures include RNs and APRNs for 2012 – 2022
Percentage of Nurses Under Age 40
- 1980 – 54%
- 1992 – 44%
- 2004 – 26%
- 2008 – 29%
According to the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses
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