Healthcare
While healthcare employment has expanded in the U.S. in recent years, it has skyrocketed in the Valley, with the four-county region adding 23,000 jobs in the industry between 1999 and 2004(more than half of all jobs added in the region during the period). Despite dramatic growth, there is still significant demand for healthcare workers in the region. In addition to issues driving national healthcare employment, demand in the Valley is fueled by a number of conditions specific to the area, including high levels of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes, as well as economic and demographic factors that influence health status, such as education and poverty. Besides creating a demand for healthcare workers, the specific medical needs of the population have made the Valley a target for government-funded research. The availability of these funds, along with the establishment of Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) and related research facilities, is expected to further the demand for skilled health professionals and supporting occupations. Healthcare is a viable target from a workforce development standpoint because it offers a variety of occupations, ranging from entry-level workers (such as the promotoras that help local residents navigate the complex array of health services) to highly skilled positions such as physical therapists and physicians. The presence of major medical institutions and local partners such as the Rio Grande Valley Allied Health Training Alliance (led by the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement) further supports the selection of healthcare as a target for WorkFORCE Solutions. (Workforce Solutions TIP Strategies, 2004) |