It’s been a challenging time for the medical and science fields. Covid-19 has dominated headlines, and clinical and non-clinical professionals have gone from essential to absolutely indispensable. While it’s easy to think this translates to significant job growth, it has actually resulted in a mixed bag of growth, stagnation, and even decline, depending on the position.
Per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare lost a record 1.4 million jobs in April but responded with over 300,000 new jobs in May and over 350,000 in June. This sharp rise and fall—or should we say fall and rise—is due to myriad factors, including Covid-19’s own peaks and valleys, people’s reluctance (then willingness) to see medical professionals, and elective procedures being entirely off limits.
Regardless of recent historical data and continued apprehension over the pandemic, there are several medical and science roles that are in high demand — and will be for the foreseeable future. Adecco Medical & Science has identified the following positions, which are poised to grow anywhere from 5% to more than 20% over the next year plus.
Contact Tracers. Prior to Covid-19, much of the general public was unaware this job existed. But now, in an effort by state governments to contain the virus, hundreds of thousands of contact tracers are needed as soon as possible. They’re vital to identifying anyone who has come in contact with an affected individual and encouraging all parties to quarantine.
Health screeners and temperature takers. Businesses across the nation are hiring health screeners and temperature takers to align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendations and monitor their employees’ health—managing who can and cannot enter workplaces based on temperatures and symptoms. Whenever a major virus is present, these roles will be a priority.
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Lab processors and lab technicians. As you can imagine, medical testing labs are experiencing more requests than normal. This has created thousands of opportunities for experienced lab processors and techs, particularly at Covid-19 and related antibodies testing sites. We expect this demand to continue to be directly affected by the state of the virus.
Medical assistants and floor monitors. In another effort to follow the CDC’s direction, countless communities are transforming various infrastructure into clinics and shelters to offer medical and social services to underserved populations. To ensure the safety of everyone involved, medical assistants and floor monitors are imperative. For the floor monitor positions, this is a great opportunity for retired police officers, firefighters, security officers, and veterans.
Nurses. This may go without saying, but the more patients visiting hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other medical facilities, the greater the need for nurses to care for them. We continue to see a steady increase in orders for permanent and temporary registered nurses, certified nurse assistants, and licensed practical nurses in many different settings.
Pharmacy technicians. With an aging population and a growing demand for prescription drugs, pharmacy technicians are needed to support pharmacists. This need is prevalent in both retail pharmacy settings and pill-packing roles in distribution centers.
As we’ve recently witnessed, the medical and science community can change in a hurry, and there will inevitably be more disruption in the future. But for now, we must focus on supply and demand — fostering skills and uncovering every stone to find new and seasoned talent to fill these important roles. In light of these uncertain times, the more open positions that are filled with talented professionals, the more others will be enabled to move forward as we look to recover from the pandemic.