At the beginning of 2018, the healthcare industry became the largest source of jobs in the U.S. for the first time in history. The industry surpassed manufacturing and retail, which is very significant given that these industries have led the way on jobs throughout most of the 20th century. A shift is underway. Healthcare is growing, and this is where the jobs will be for the foreseeable future.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, five of the 10 fastest-growing professions are in healthcare, which, as an industry, is poised to generate 2.3 million new jobs and experience 18% growth between 2016 and 2026. What’s more, between 2016 and 2026, the top six growing health care related roles — home health aides, personal care aides, physician’s assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapy assistants and medical assistants– will each see between 29 and 47% growth. These are not the only healthcare professions slated for growth either. Roles ranging from doctors of all specialties, registered nurses, healthcare administrators and occupational therapists will also see increased demand for their skills.
While a booming industry with lots of job opportunity is a great thing for a labor force, and an economy, it creates new challenges for folks trying to hire. The quality standards are incredibly high and with so many options available to qualified job seekers, how does an employer attract them in the first place? The competition for talented, qualified workers in healthcare has never been greater, and fortunately, there are tools out there to help.
To help any healthcare organization successfully identify and hire the right people, here are a few tips to make the process as seamless and effective as possible:
Emphasize the mission
Many healthcare professionals get into the field to make a difference. A key way to differentiate one employer from others is to highlight the impact of its work within the community. If an organization has a particular focus such as the elderly, children, or underprivileged groups, sharing that aspect of the story can be compelling to candidates who have a particular interest in the problem that company is solving.
In a field as personal as healthcare, the people and communities employees engage with will make a difference. The key to getting candidates to choose a particular organization is to demonstrate the unique vision and clearly articulate how that particular individual can contribute to the mission.
Employee referrals
Healthcare professionals often find new roles through professional networks. One way to reach as many potential candidates as possible is to leverage existing employees. Whether it’s someone they went to school with or have worked with in previous roles, every employee can serve as an invaluable resource for finding solid, hard-to-reach candidates. Letting employees know which roles are most critical and incentivizing referrals can increase the chances of landing top hires.
Emphasize quality benefits
The work hours of many medical professionals are famously tough and many healthcare firms cannot afford to deviate too much from their tried-and-true schedules. But, organizations that can offer flexible schedules or other benefits can set themselves apart from the more rigid competition. Benefits such as additional vacation or parental leave, can move the needle with certain candidates. And, services now make it simple for organizations to assist with student loan repayment, which can dramatically reduce financial stress for potential employees. Offering additional benefits is a way to show workers how valued they are — and prove the same to candidates.
Streamline workflows
Hospitals and healthcare organizations can often get bogged down in red tape due to stringent regulations, which can make it difficult to establish an efficient hiring culture. But, technology can help. Many modern ATSs offer user-friendly apps and cloud-based databases that make it simpler to manage the hiring process and all of its moving pieces. Other solutions can automate recruiting and streamline other parts of the process, such as talent sourcing and outreach. By utilizing the latest technologies, talent leaders can quickly develop better hiring processes that dramatically improve their bandwidth to fill as many roles as possible. In an industry experiencing extraordinary growth, the right hiring strategies and tactics can make all the difference.