As the senior population grows, so will employment opportunities

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Have you noticed all the senior housing developments springing up across Western New York? Well, it?s a trend that?s in full bloom across the nation, and with good reason.

It was back in 2011 when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services first predicted a significant boom in our nation?s senior population. How significant? We?re talking more than 72 million people over the age of 65 living in our country by the year 2020. This staggering figure more than doubled the number identified in the 2000 U.S. Census.

It?s seems logical then to also predict that one of the employment trends that will help drive our economy now and well into the future will be jobs related to the healthcare industry. Economists are saying that healthcare will remain a fertile area for hiring for many years to come.

A trend at colleges and universities today is the addition of degrees focused on areas such as senior housing, aging, health policy, therapeutic recreation, dementia care, etc. For those interested in pursuing a career in one of these fields, an online search should produce a number of opportunities available at our institutes of higher learning.

There?s a line from an old movie that says, ?If you build it, they will come.? Colleges and universities are building the degree programs to fill an employment gap, and wise students looking for a long-term career are already lining up at their doors!