Rehabilitation Counselors

The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 increased the demand for rehabilitation counselors. As more local, state, and federal programs are initiated that are designed to assist people with disabilities and as private institutions and companies seek to comply with this new legislation, there will continue to be demand for counselors. Budget pressures may serve to limit the number of new rehabilitation counselors to be hired by government agencies (especially at the federal level); however, the overall outlook remains excellent.

Employment for rehabilitation counselors is expected to grow by 2 percent, more slowly than the average for all careers, from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Opportunities for rehabilitation counselors will be much stronger in the following sectors: services for the elderly and persons with disabilities (+26.7 percent); offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists (+24.1 percent); outpatient care centers (+21.8 percent); and home health care services (+20.6 percent). Some of this growth can be attributed to advances in medical technology that are saving more lives, as well as the elderly population living longer and needing rehabilitation counseling. In addition, more employers are offering employee assistance programs that provide mental health and alcohol and drug abuse services. Counselors will also be needed to work with veterans who have been injured during their military service and with those who have learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.