About the Health Care and Social Assistance Industry
The Health Care and Social Assistance sector comprises establishments providing health care and social assistance for individuals. The sector includes both health care and social assistance because it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the boundaries of these two activities. The industries in this sector are arranged on a continuum starting with establishments providing medical care exclusively, continuing with those providing health care and social assistance, and finally finishing with those providing only social assistance. Establishments in this sector deliver services by trained professionals.
Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Spotlight
Many health care jobs don’t require health care education or experience – just a caring heart.
Many health care employers provide training – so you can earn while you learn.
Positions are open at every level, in every part of Minnesota, and in every setting – scheduling options include part time, full time, days, evenings and weekends.
Health care employs nearly 400,000 people in Minnesota and there is projected long-term demand for health care workers. Currently, there is extremely high demand for many types of health care workers – from entry level to highly specialized. Make a difference in the lives of others – and Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career!.
Find out more by contacting staff at a CareerForce location near you today!
Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career
Featured Careers in Health Care and Social Assistance
In Demand Careers
- Home health and personal care aides
- Registered nurses
- Nursing assistants
- Medical assistants
- Medical secretaries and administrative assistants
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Medical and health services managers
- Dental assistants
- Preschool teachers, except special education
- Childcare workers
Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Trends
- In 2022, there were nearly 23,200 establishments providing just under 495,000 jobs in the Health Care & Social Assistance industry, making it the largest employing industry in the state. That accounted for about 17% of total employment in the state, or 1 in every 6 jobs.
- With a payroll of just over $31 billion dollars, average annual wages were just under $63,000 in 2022, which was about $7,000 below the average across all industries.
- The largest subsector was Ambulatory Health Care Services with 156,300 jobs; followed by Hospitals with 125,500 jobs, Social Assistance with 108,700 jobs and Nursing & Residential Care Facilities with 103,200 jobs.
- The Health Care & Social Assistance industry has been the largest growing industry in Minnesota since 2012, gaining over 58,000 jobs over the past 10 years.
- Health Care & Social Assistance firms reported 45,230 job vacancies in 2022, as employers struggled to find workers to fill open jobs.
- According to DEED’s long-term projections, the Health Care & Social Assistance industry is expected to add nearly 60,000 jobs over the next decade, a rapid 12.6% rate of growth.
- Several occupations in demand in Health Care & Social Assistance are expected to see growth in the future as well as demand from replacement openings as existing workers retire. Most jobs in Health Care & Social Assistance require postsecondary education, though some can be started with a High School Diploma and some level of on-the-job training.
Health Care and Social Assistance Training Programs
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Additional Resources
Resources for people looking for work now:
- Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career - view materials in multiple languages about working in home-, community- or facility-based care. No health care experience required and employers provide training!
- 5 Great Reasons to Work in Health Care Now - flyer
- Health Care Employee Success Stories - learn how fellow Minnesotans are making a difference in health care!
Resources for students and educators:
- Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career - view materials in multiple languages about working in home-, community- or facility-based care. No health care experience required and employers provide training!
- 5 Great Reasons to Explore a Career in Health Care - flyer
- View short videos about dozens of health care career options
- Start in health care; go anywhere success stories
Resources for employers:
- Follow Your Heart to a Caring Career Employer Resources - view materials in multiple languages for use by home-, community- or facility-based care provider employers
- How we help health care employers find the workers they need - fact sheet
Resources for employees:
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