October
2010
The State of Allied Health in North Carolina
North Carolina Health Professions Data System
An overview of issues and opportunities for the allied health workforce
What is allied health?
Healthcare Jobs in North Carolina, 2009
Sometimes it's easier to define what allied health is
NOT. Typically we think of allied health professionals as
anyone in the field other than physicians, nurses,
pharmacists, dentists, home health aids and a few
others. Allied health professionals participate in all
aspects of care including identifying disease, providing
technology support, counseling on diet and nutrition, as
well as providing rehabilitation services among others.
Did you know...?
Allied health is driving growth in the larger health care
sector.
• Between 1999 and 2009, over 44% of job growth in the
health care sector was due to growth of allied health
jobs.
• Between 2006 and 2016, medical assistants and physi¬
cal therapy assistants are projected to be in the top 10
fastest growing occupations in North Carolina by per¬
centage change.
Total HC Jobs:
364,300
Home Health,
Nurse Aids,
Orderliesand
Attendants,
28%
Total AH Jobs:
128,150
Note: "Other healthcare occupations" includes chiropractors, dentists,
optometrists, pharmacists, and podiatrists.
The challenge to estimate allied health work¬
force supply
The total number of jobs in North Carolina increased
2.5% from 1999-2009 to 3,896,750. During this same pe¬
riod, health care employment grew 46% to 367,320, and
within health care, the number of allied health jobs in¬
creased by over 67% to 128,150.
Percent Growth in Employment in NC, 1999-2009
80%
70%
60%
50%
2 40%
ID
^ 30%
20%
10%
0%
Health care
Jobs, 46%
Total N.C.
Employment
3%
Jobs, 67%
Industry
Despite the fact that the demand for allied health
workers is strong and expected to grow, state policy
makers still struggle with basic questions:
• How many professionals are practicing in the state?
• Is N.C. producing too many, too few, or the right
number of professionals to meet the needs of the
population?
• How many educational programs are in the state?
• Are the types and locations of educational training
programs appropriate?
Because the vast majority of the allied health workforce
is not licensed, it is difficult to estimate whether North
Carolina's citizens have adequate access to a well-
distributed and well-prepared allied health workforce.
Sources: North Carolina Health Professions Data System with data derived from
the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics (2009),
http:/ /www. bls.gov/oes/; accessed
9/15/2010.
