Healthcare

Like much of the nation, the Valley has seen a significant employment growth in healthcare related industries in recent years. A number of trends-continued population growth, the aging baby boomers, and increasing levels of expenditures per person-translate into continued high rates of employment growth in the industry in the future.

The Healthcare and Social Assistance industry (NAICS 62) has a location quotient of 1.88 in 2004, driven largely by the concentration of employment in Ambulatory Health Care Services (NAICS 621). This finding is borne out by the shift-share analysis, which revealed positive growth in the industry at the national level, as well as a positive regional component, suggesting a competitive advantage.

The impact of local initiatives and investment, particularly the work of Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) and the establishment of the Regional Academic Health Center can play an important role in expansion of this cluster.

Finally, the industry offers a mix of high wage occupations and entry-level occupations, making it an attractive target for workforce training efforts.

(Workforce Solutions TIP Strategies, 2004)

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