The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant challenges for employers and employees across every industry, with even the oft-touted “recession proof” industry of healthcare seeing staggering employment losses and unprecedented financial pressures. However, as arguably the most essential industry during a global health crisis, healthcare seems to be rebounding at a healthy speed.

But what does the future hold? While no one can say for absolute certain, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the foremost fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the field of labor economics and statistics, has released a list of the top occupations they anticipate seeing the most job growth by 2029. Healthcare—an industry whose jobs continually ranks among the BLS’ top occupations for projected job growth—accounts for 30% of the list, including the #1 ranked occupation.

Here are the top healthcare jobs for the future, based on the BLS’ rankings, including where they were ranked and more.

#1. Home Health and Personal Care Aides

Employment in 2019: 3,439,700
Projected Employment in 2029: 4,599,200
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑1,159,500 Jobs (↑33.7%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $25,280

#5. Registered Nurses

Employment in 2019: 3,096,700
Projected Employment in 2029: 3,318,700
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑221,900 Jobs (↑7.2%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $73,300

#7. Medical Assistants

Employment in 2019: 725,200
Projected Employment in 2029: 864,400
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑139,200 Jobs (↑19.2%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $34,800

#8. Medical and Health Services Managers

Employment in 2019: 422,300
Projected Employment in 2029: 555,500
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑133,200 Jobs (↑31.5%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $100,980

#12. Nursing Assistants

Employment in 2019: 1,528,500
Projected Employment in 2029: 1,645,500
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑116,900 Jobs (↑7.6%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $29,660

#13. Nurse Practitioners

Employment in 2019: 211,300
Projected Employment in 2029: 322,000
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑110,700 Jobs (↑52.4%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $109,820

#20. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

Employment in 2019: 319,400
Projected Employment in 2029: 398,400
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑79,000 Jobs (↑24.7%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $46,240

#22. Social and Human Service Assistants

Employment in 2019: 425,600
Projected Employment in 2029: 497,100
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑71,500 Jobs (↑16.8%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $35,060

#24. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Employment in 2019: 721,700
Projected Employment in 2029: 787,400
Change from 2019 – 2029: ↑65,700 Jobs (↑9.1%)
Median Annual Wage in 2019: $47,480

Looking for a job in healthcare? Search for these occupations and more on HealthJobs.com.

Disclaimer: The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.