Attending the Allen School for Medical Assisting is a good strategy for young people who wish to embark on a lifelong career in the healthcare industry. However, individuals fifty years and older, taking a Medical Assistant program is a great option. A recent USA Today article reporting on an AARP survey illustrates why folks in the middle of a lifetime can benefit from a significant career change, leaving behind work in unrelated fields, in favor of Medical Assistant training and other healthcare-related jobs.
It is not a secret that the employment market has lately favored the younger worker for his/her willingness to work for less, leaving many middle aged workers unemployed for long stretches of time thanks to the economic downturn. The AARP survey of 2,492 people, ages 45 to 70, which had been unemployed at some time during the past five years, showed that people who were unemployed for a longer period were more likely to take a job in a different occupation than those who were unemployed for a shorter time. Careers in Medical Assisting are a good choice for more seasoned workers looking to transition into a new field and here are three reasons – based on the AARP survey data – why this makes sense.
1) Better Pay – 51% of respondents to the AARP survey said they earn more in their new jobs than their old.
2) Better Work Environment – About half (49%) of re-employed workers say their working conditions at their new jobs are better than the jobs that left them behind
3) High Job Availability – 71% of the respondents said the biggest barrier to landing a new job is that there are none available; 60% reported the need to stay in the area where they currently live; 57% said that employers think they’re too old. The medical field is one of the most robust sectors of the economy and will remain so for at least a decade according to US Dept. of Labor statistics and there is a need for healthcare in all 50 states. Older workers beginning new careers in this exciting field can easily find work wherever they live and there are always positions in solid supply.
If you’re an older worker considering a new career path to get back into the workforce, Medical Assistant training could be the option for you. Call us today!