Good News! RT Comes Out on Top in New BLS Statistics

March 2, 2004
Want to work in one of the fastest growing occupations around?

As a respiratory therapist, you already do!

According to newly released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the respiratory therapy profession is expected to add some 37,837 new jobs between now and 2012, increasing the size of the profession by 35 percent and making RT one of the fastest growing occupations covered in the BLS's 2004-2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook.

These figures support previous findings from the AARC, says Bill Dubbs, MEd, MHA, RRT, FAARC, the Association’s director of education and management. A comparison of data from the 1992 and 2000 Human Resources Survey indicates managerial and direct patient care positions grew by “approximately 37 percent in the past decade in hospitals alone.”

Another positive finding in the new BLS statistics is the fact that RT professionals also appear on the BLS table, “Occupations that were relatively high paying in 2002 and are projected to grow faster than the average over the 2002-2012 period.” Clearly, RT is not only growing, but will continue to provide an above average income as well.

So, not only do RTs have no worries with regards to the current national obsession with jobs being lost to “outsourcing” (they may be reading x-rays in India, but the chances of anyone delivering an aerosol treatment or suctioning a vent patient via “information technology” are virtually nonexistent), they can be assured their profession is quickly becoming one of the top occupations in the country – providing a good income and job security now and long into the future.

See this good news on the BLS Website:

General information on the newly released employment statistics from the BLS

View the table listing RT as one of the fastest growing occupations

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook update for respiratory therapists

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