8 Needed Roles in Healthcare Due to Industry Growth

Updated September 2026.

The healthcare industry is rapidly expanding. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare occupations are projected to generate about an average of 1.9 million openings annually from 2025 to 2035 due to employment growth and workforce replacement needs.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, job seekers will continue to see opportunities open up over the next decade. But how do you know which professions will be successful?

Whether you’re considering a first career in healthcare or looking to pivot within the industry, here are some of the top roles we’ve identified as necessary to healthcare industry growth trends.

In-Demand Healthcare Industry Roles

It’s important to keep in mind that healthcare occupations do not grow at the same rate. However, the BLS projects that most of the following occupations are on track to grow much faster than average from 2025 to 2035.

1. Nurse Practitioners

Much like traditional doctors, nurse practitioners are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses, overseeing patient care, and prescribing medications. They often serve as primary care providers in settings such as hospitals, clinics, and private practices.

According to healthcare industry growth projections, nurse practitioners are expected to remain among the fastest-growing occupations in healthcare as organizations seek to expand access to care and address provider shortages. Their ability to diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and provide primary care services continues to make them an increasingly important part of the healthcare workforce.

Median Annual Salary: $134,920

Job Growth: 36% from 2025 to 2035 (Much faster than average)

2. Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses (RNs) can work anywhere from private practices to homes to hospitals. While some specialize in a specific field—like neonatal, critical care, public health, or cardiovascular—RNs typically all share the same responsibilities. They oversee patient care, collaborate with doctors to treat patients and manage illness and injury, and record observations and diagnostics.

Healthcare organizations continue to face ongoing workforce shortages, making international nursing programs an important part of long-term workforce planning. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global health workforce is projected to face a shortage of approximately 11 million health workers by 2030. As a result, many providers are exploring international recruitment strategies to strengthen talent pipelines and support workforce stability.

Although the growth rate is listed at 6%, almost 200,000 roles for RNs open each year. The need for nurses remains one of the most persistent workforce challenges facing healthcare organizations both in the U.S. and internationally.

Median Annual Salary: $97,550

Job Growth: 6% from 2025 to 2035 (Faster than average)

3. Healthcare IT Specialists

Healthcare IT specialists help healthcare organizations manage, maintain, and optimize the technology that supports patient care and day-to-day operations. They may work with electronic health records (EHRs), cybersecurity systems, data platforms, digital health tools, and other technologies that help healthcare teams deliver efficient, high-quality care.

As healthcare organizations continue investing in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven decision making, demand for skilled healthcare technology professionals remains strong. These specialists play an important role in helping providers improve workflows, protect patient information, and modernize operations.

Median Annual Salary: Salaries vary by specialization, with many healthcare IT roles earning six-figure salaries.

Job Growth: Faster than average from 2025 to 2035

4. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) deliver essential, basic medical care across environments like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and private residences. The only distinction between these roles is their title, which varies depending on the state. Typically, LPNs and LVNs work under the supervision of RNs and physicians.

Median Annual Salary: $64,400

Job Growth: 3% from 2025 to 2035 (As fast as average)

5. Physician Assistants

Physician assistants serve just below doctors in the medical hierarchy, conducting patient exams, diagnosing conditions, and assisting with treatment under a physician’s supervision. They commonly work in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices. According to the BLS, physician assistants are projected to remain among the fastest-growing occupations in healthcare as organizations work to expand access to care and address growing patient demand.

Median Annual Salary: $135,880

Job Growth: 21% from 2025 to 2035 (Much faster than average)

6. Revenue Cycle Professionals

Revenue cycle professionals help healthcare organizations manage the financial and administrative processes that support patient care. These professionals may work in areas such as medical billing, coding, claims management, denials management, revenue integrity, patient access, and reimbursement.

As healthcare organizations continue to focus on financial performance, operational efficiency, and patient experience, revenue cycle professionals play an increasingly important role in helping providers optimize reimbursement, reduce claim denials, and improve the overall healthcare experience.

Median Annual Salary: $51,140

Job Outlook: 8% from 2025 to 2035 (Much faster than average)

7. Medical and Health Services Managers

Not every healthcare professional provides direct care to patients. Medical and health services managers act as the operational backbone of healthcare organizations. Whether they manage an entire facility, department, or service line, these leaders help manage budgets, staffing, compliance, strategic initiatives, and day-to-day operations to support high-quality patient care.

Median Annual Salary: $123,860

Job Growth: 24% from 2025 to 2035 (Much faster than average)

8. Personal care Aides

A personal care aide is one of the few direct care roles that does not need a medical degree and instead relies on on-the-job training. Aides typically assist older people or people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, whether in a residential facility or a home.

Like RNs, personal care aides continue to be in high demand. As more healthcare services shift into home and community-based settings, this role remains one of the fastest-growing occupations in healthcare and offers hundreds of thousands of opportunities each year.

Median Annual Salary: $35,800

Job Growth: 18% from 2025 to 2035 (Much faster than average)

Explore Healthcare Opportunities

As healthcare organizations continue to expand services, address workforce shortages, modernize technology, and improve operational efficiency, demand for skilled professionals is expected to remain strong. Opportunities exist across clinical care, healthcare technology, operations, and administrative support, giving job seekers more pathways into the industry than ever before.

Whether you’re pursuing a patient-facing role, supporting healthcare organizations behind the scenes, or helping advance new technologies and innovative ways of working, understanding healthcare industry growth trends can help you make informed career decisions and identify opportunities that align with your goals.

Not sure where to start looking? Check out our job board to start your healthcare search today.

For healthcare organizations looking to strengthen their workforce, Insight Global provides talent, consulting, and AI solutions that help build capacity, modernize operations, and support transformation initiatives across the healthcare ecosystem.