Health Advocates

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment in the health care support sector will increase as the population ages and new medical technologies evolve. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor expects that the number of jobs will increase much faster than the average for all careers through 2033. While this figure includes all areas of health care support services, growth in health services is likely to contribute to health advocacy employment in the long run: As the number of patients increases and the field of health services becomes larger and more complex, patients' need for advocates can be expected to increase as well. Also, the growth of the aging population can mean more employment for patient advocates.

As the field of health advocacy grows, it most likely will become more established. New graduate programs can be expected to develop, and eventually undergraduate programs may exist as well. While the wide range of jobs available means that the field should stay diverse and deregulated, certain areas of health advocacy may develop certification procedures for their subgroups over the next five years.