In today's turbulent economy, residents in the United States must research job outlooks to find careers that will offer job security and stability. The medical industry is expected to flourish and there will be an increase for trained and qualified medical professionals within the next 7 years. With aging baby boomers needing an increased level of medical care, the job outlook for a variety of different professions in the industry is almost guaranteed. If you are studying to become a surgical technician, understand how the aging baby boomer population will affect your job outlook and get the reassurance you need to complete school and change your life.  Online surgical tech program

Nature of Work

Surgical technicians, also commonly referred to as surgical technologists, assist surgeons in a variety of different types of surgical procedures. As a member of the operating room team, surgical technicians play a very important role in setting up equipment, sterilizing instruments, and observing patients during the procedure. Because of the nature of the job, surgical technicians can expect high earning potential with the opportunity for advancement.

Current Jobs and Future Job Outlook

In 2008, surgical technologists held approximately 91,000 jobs throughout the nation. Approximately 70 percent of these jobs were in hospital settings with the remaining 30 percent spread out in dentist offices, physician offices, and outpatient surgical clinics. Employment for surgical technicians is expected to grow faster than average within the next 3 to 5 years. Between 2011 and 2018, employment is predicted to grow by as much a 30 percent. This percentage of growth is much higher than the average growth for most occupations in the nation. The main reason for this increased growth is because of the growing volume of surgeries.

Reasons for Increased Demand

Just like anything else, the positive outlook for surgical technicians is because of supply and demand. As the baby boomer generation grows and the average age of the population increases, the need for surgical procedures will grow proportionately. In addition to the aging population, advanced in medical technologies have permitted new surgeries to treat different conditions. A greater number of procedures will require the need for trained and certified technologists. Employment growth is expected to be most dramatic in hospitals with higher populations of baby boomers. Existing technicians are approaching retirement that also contributes to the growing need for professionals. The combination of all of these factors can truly benefit individuals enrolled in surgical technician programs.

Approximately 24,000 new jobs will be available due to the increasing demand for surgical technicians. Professionals with a certification who are willing to relocate will appreciate the greatest job opportunities in the industry. If you are willing to relocate to an area with a high baby boomer population, you may find higher paying jobs in a shorter period of time. If the supply of professionals remains lower than the demand, the income for technicians will increase. Make sure to compare the responsibilities of technicians in different work environments and take advantage of this growing career opportunity.