Cytogenetic Technologists

Employment of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (including cytogenetic technologists) is projected to grow 5 percent, about as fast as the average for all careers, through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Cytogenetic technologists will continue to be needed by medical and diagnostic laboratories and research facilities to identify genetic disorders and diseases. More people are seeking prenatal testing to determine genetic disorders. Employment growth for technologists is also attributed to the increase in the aging population and the need for more laboratory procedures to diagnose and treat medical conditions. Additionally, the Mayo Clinic predicts that "the emphasis on personalized medicine and use of targeted therapies will increase the demand for cytogenetic technologists who are trained to perform complex genetic testing."

There are workload limits for laboratory technologists, with regulations regarding the number of slides they are allowed to work on each day. These limits can increase the need for technologists, particularly in larger laboratories where employees work in shifts.