The demand for occupational therapy jobs

 

Many careers in the healthcare industry are currently in high demand, such as travel nursing and nurse practitioner jobs, and occupational therapy jobs are no exception. April is Occupational Therapy Month, a tradition that dates back to 1980, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association. So there is no better time than now to focus on the current picture of OT opportunities across the U.S. Whether you’re an OT yourself or are on your way to a successful career in this profession, here’s what you need to know:

A career of variety and excitement
What is an OT? The answer to this question varies based on who you ask. That’s because there is so much variety available to these professionals. In general, they use therapeutic techniques to help clients perform in their occupations, which refers to daily activities. This might be anything from working their jobs to dancing in recitals. To do this, the OT looks at not only developing the client’s mobility and skills, but also takes holistic approaches that pertain to individual’s environment and overall lifestyle.

The treatment plan often follows the same process:

• The OT collaborates with the patient and his or her family to set goals based on an evaluation of the client’s needs and lifestyle.
• The professional then creates an intervention plan that focuses on developing the client’s abilities in order to achieve goals determined in the evaluation.
• The OT and client review the individual’s progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.

While clients’ unique needs add a lot of diversity to an OT’s job, the variety hardly ends there. Because of the vast career opportunities, day-to-day duties differ widely based on the OT’s concentration. For example, an OT specialized in hand therapy may help clients facing arthritis type at a computer, which means their facilities might have equipment like keyboards. Meanwhile, certified brain injury OTs would likely aid individuals with traumatic head injuries in getting back to activities like walking and talking.

Truly, an OT’s career is what he or she makes of it. Those who love working with kids can enter pediatric specialties, while professionals with a soft spot for the elderly can enter geriatric care. What’s more, OTs aren’t limited to rehabilitation centers. They can work in hospitals, schools and medical centers, among other environments. There are also opportunities to see the world and work in various locations with travel therapy jobs. The best part of the travel therapy route is OTs can enter this career path immediately after graduation, unlike travel nurses who must gain two years of experience first.

A growing field in high demand
Graduates entering the OT field will not only be able to cater careers to their interests, but they also have promising chances of securing jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts OT jobs will grow 27 percent by 2024, which is much faster than the national average. That rate is equivalent to about 30,400 new openings.

So what’s driving this demand? There are several reasons for OT job growth, but a major component is the influx of baby boomers entering retirement. According to 2015 statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 75.4 million baby boomers, and in 2011, folks born between 1946-1964 began turning 65. Couple this with an increased life expectancy, and it’s clear why the OT client base is growing.

Seniors often have more healthcare needs than their younger counterparts, particularly mobility assistance. The AOTA explained that OTs working in senior communities like assisted living centers may focus on individual clients or develop programs for all residents. As with any patient, intervention depends on the senior’s current ability and lifestyle. For instance, a more mobile older adult may need assistance remaining independent by improving driving or walking. Meanwhile, a senior with greater disabilities may need help with basic tasks like getting dressed and eating.

Beyond the growing need for OTs, an increased value for these professionals is also fueling demand for their services. Speaking with U.S. News & World Report, Samia Rafeedie, a University of Southern California assistant professor of occupational therapy, explained that the development of occupational science has helped validate OT services on health outcomes.

“It studies how meaningful activities – occupations – impact health, wellness, and well-being,”she wrote in an email to U.S. News.

Because the healthcare industry and people in general are better understanding the benefits of this therapy, clients may be more inclined to seek out these services and healthcare professionals are more apt to recommended them.

Where are OT jobs?
There’s no geographical location that simply doesn’t need OTs, but some areas demand the service more than others. Naturally, the need for OT jobs coincides with where baby boomers live. The U.S. Census Bureau revealed that Colorado and Florida are two areas with major growth in senior residents. Although, the BLS highlighted that the top five states with highest employment for OTs are California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida. Additionally, the highest-paying areas in the U.S. include Nevada, Texas, New Jersey, California and Washington, D.C., respectively.

While reviewing statistics yields information on job opportunities, OTs don’t need to figure out these details on their own. Travel occupational therapists work with account managers to find locations that not only have high demand for OTs but also fit the employee’s lifestyle. If you move to Texas and find out you can’t stand the heat, your account manager can make sure your next assignment is somewhere up north – maybe near the Big Apple!

Individuals looking for a fast-growing, high-demand and exciting career would truly enjoy travel occupational travel therapy.