HEALTH CARE CAREERS ARE WAVE OF THE FUTURE

The nation's employment picture is understandably viewed as bleak by some; if you want work and can't find it, optimism is hard to come by. But there is plenty of reason for optimism, especially if you take into account that 92.7 percent of adult Americans have jobs and with a perspective that job markets are changing. In the health care field, for example, the opportunities seem boundless, and Cape Girardeau seems well-suited to take advantage of this circumstance.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that before the end of this decade, America will add 3.2 million jobs in health services. This will bring the number of health care jobs nationally to 12 million. Missouri labor officials see a similar trend; in this state there is expected to be a 38 percent growth in health services jobs in the next eight years.

Finding reasons for this phenomenal growth is easy enough. America's population is, on average, growing older. More people are in the age category where more health care is needed. In addition, the technology in medical fields is changing rapidly. More people are needed to develop, manage and operate this technology. The Missouri Hospital Association reported that in 1990, 105,000 employees in hospitals around the state represented more than 200 different careers. That number is sure to grow.

What does this mean for Cape Girardeau?

All indications are that Cape Girardeau will prosper from such an environment. The community has two hospitals that cumulatively employ more than 2,000 people. With its numerous physician and dental offices (and attendant therapeutic supply and pharmaceutical franchises), Cape Girardeau is a medical hub for the region. In addition, this city is the regional center for health-care education: Southeast Missouri State University has an active and growing program in nursing, the Vocational-Technical School in Cape Girardeau has numerous offerings that lead to health care careers and both hospitals are busy with training programs to assure a skilled labor force in the years to come.

So great is the need to meet labor demands in this expanding field that a Cape ~Gir~ardeau-based company, Health Services Corporation of America, has formed a foundation that provides scholarships to students wanting to embark on health care careers. In the two-year history of Health Careers Foundation, more than $1.2 million has been awarded in scholarships to students in 39 states. This an enormous commitment by the locally based company and others in the health care community to make sure the industry remains vital.

Jobs are out there. They pay well and are the wave of the future. Cape Girardeau is in good position to benefit from and advance this trend in the labor market.