Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region face a severe health care personnel shortage.
The Washington State Health Care Personnel Shortage Task Force recently reported that,
"Employers in all areas of the state still report difficulty recruiting a wide variety
of health care personnel." A recent job survey found that nurses were one of the highest
demand occupations in Washington. Washington’s over-65 population, a group known to require large amounts of health care resources, is expected to grow 93 percent by 2020 (Health Workforce Institute). This means that
career opportunities in health care will remain strong.
Seattle is one of the nation’s leading providers of health care. In 2002 local health care providers generated over 76,650 jobs and $3.1 billion in labor income. Health care and related occupations totaled almost 120,000 workers in Seattle alone. Additionally, Seattle’s Office of Economic Development projects that 10,100 new healthcare jobs will be created between 2004 and 2014 (one out of six newly created jobs will be in healthcare).
Currently, employers in King County and across the State continue to report job vacancies for health care practitioners and support personnel. In particular, hospital vacancies have increased in most professions for the second straight year (“Results of the 2007 Hospital Work Force Survey, WA State Hospital Association/Health Workforce Institute, 2007). This trend, combined with an aging nursing workforce, ensures that jobs in the healthcare industry will continue to be in-demand.
What does this mean for you? Health care jobs offer competitive wages.
In many health care occupations, you will find a job market that wants your skills.
Hospital and other health care providers
need well-trained and educated personnel, either new to the field or workers seeking to advance
their careers with additional training. The Legislature has provided funding to expand health
care education and training programs and passed new laws allowing hospitals to reimburse
employees for education and training and travel costs for interviews.
The Seattle Community Colleges are well placed to address these needs. We serve a diverse
student population and we educate students in the largest and most enviable health care system
in the Pacific Northwest.
Selected King County Health Care Jobs in Demand
| Program |
Job |
Minimum Program Length (Quarters) |
Average Annual Wage |
Degree / Certificate |
Seattle Community College Campuses |
 |
| Acute Care Hospital Nursing Assistant |
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants |
2 |
$25,415 |
Short-term Certificate |
SVI |
| Clinical Lab Assisting |
Medical Equipment Preparers |
3 |
$30,400 |
One-year certificate
|
North |
| Dental Assistant |
Dental Assistants |
4 |
$35,816 |
One-year certificate
|
SVI |
| Dental Hygiene |
Dental Hygienists |
7 |
$85,460 |
Associate of Applied Science |
Central |
|
Health Unit Coordinator |
Receptionist and information clerks |
3 |
$25,138 |
One-year certificate
|
SVI |
|
Information Technology for Healthcare |
Medical Records and Healthcare Technicians |
1,3,6 |
$33,782 |
Short -term Certificate,one-year Certificate, Associate of Applied Science |
North |
|
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses |
4 |
$42,301 |
One-year Certificate |
South,North |
| LPN-to-RN Transition |
Registered Nurses |
3 |
$67,003 |
Associate of Applied Science |
Central, North, South |
| Medical Assistant Program |
Medical Assistants |
4,5 |
$31,761 |
One-year certificate
|
North, SVI |
| Medical Office Administration |
Medical Secretaries |
2 |
$34,732 |
Short-term Certificate |
North,SVI |
| Medical Office Assistant |
Medical Secretaries |
1 |
$34,732 |
Short-term Certificate |
South |
| Nursing |
Registered Nurses |
6 |
$67,003 |
Associate of Applied Science |
Central |
| Nursing Assistant |
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants |
1 |
$25,415 |
Short-term Certificate |
North, South, SVI |
| Respiratory Care |
Respiratory Therapists |
7 |
$56,476 |
Associate of Applied Science |
Central |
Sources: Washington State Employment Security Department;
Seattle Community College District Program Inventories
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