Healthcare
Beyond Stethoscopes and Blood Draws
Healthcare workers are in high demand and ongoing, fast-paced growth is expected as baby boomers age and medical needs increase. There are more than 400 occupations in healthcare and a great many don’t require a college degree.
With more than 119,000 jobs and a payroll over $12 billion,
Healthcare accounts for 10% of the Portland-Vancouver metro
area’s private-sector employment and 13% of payroll. The
Healthcare sector includes hospitals, offices of physicians, dentists, and other Healthcare providers, such as outpatient health
clinics (ambulatory care), and nursing and residential facilities.
119,815
People Employed
11,526
Businesses
11,305
*New Jobs by 2025
*Represents new jobs from sector growth as well as replacement openings due to retirements by 2025.
What Healthcare Careers Offer
Career Stability
Opportunities to learn and get promoted in healthcare happen often as demand is high and continues to grow to accommodate changes in how people access care, baby boomer care, and hi-tech advancements.
Personal Impact
On a day-to-day basis, many roles in healthcare impact people’s lives in truly significant ways.
Jobs at All Levels
From fitness instructors and cafeteria support staff to highly specialized psychiatry experts and everything in between, healthcare offers opportunities for a wide range of people from all backgrounds.
Diverse Environments
Healthcare isn’t just about workers in doctor’s offices. It’s personal care in people’s homes. It’s one-on-one counseling in clinics or even via text or online. It’s research in high-tech labs. No matter what your preference, there is a workplace you’ll thrive in.
Who Shines in Healthcare?
Employers in the healthcare industry look for problem solvers who don’t take constructive criticism personally because they know it’s about outcomes, not egos. Employees who are quick-thinkers and who are also empathetic and respectful are typically quite successful in healthcare roles.
Knowledge
- Computers & Electronics
- Clerical
- Psychology
- Medicine & Dentistry
- English Language
- Customer & Personal Service
Abilities
- Speech Clarity
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Communication Skills
- Oral Comprehension
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Active Listening
Explore the Variety of Jobs in Healthcare
There are many different types of positions, at all levels, in a wide variety of settings that people don’t often think about when thinking of healthcare jobs. And many don’t require college degrees.
Diagnosis and Treatment
People with these jobs diagnose and treat illnesses, infections, injuries, and other health problems.
Medical Administration and Support Services
People with these jobs record medical information, handle scheduling and billing, and advise patients.
Medical Science and Biotechnology
People with these jobs solve medical problems, perform laboratory tests, and develop new medical technology.
Therapy and Natural Healing
People with these jobs help patients through therapeutic services and natural healing.
Interested?
The resources below will help you decide if a career in construction is right for you.
Long-Term Care
Long-term care is more than you think. It’s a field full of diverse options, growth and career mobility.
Info Sheet
Download an info sheet with career pathways information, top occupations by education, and a sampling of local employers.
Free E-Learning Course
To see if you would be a good fit for a career in healthcare, take this guided overview
e-learning course.
Get a look at a day in the life of some healthcare employees
For more videos, check out the Day At Work videos on connectED
or the video library at Career One Stop.