According to industry experts, nursing is one of the hottest occupations. Registered nurses held 3,379,720 jobs nationwide (BLS, May 2025).
Why is the Job Outlook for Nurses Growing?
The surge in nursing demands can be attributed to a variety of factors including a longer living, albeit, sicker population; growing rates of chronic illnesses and the emphasis now placed on preventative care. Additionally, millions more people now have access to healthcare under the Affordable Care Act, which also translates to the need for more trained nurses.
Along with RNs, the need for more advanced, specialized nurses will also increase, according to the BLS. Midwives, nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners are among the nurse-related professions expected to be in high demand.
“Nursing is a marketable degree,” according to Suzanne Prevost, dean of the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama. Prevost went on to say that even in years where there was an overabundance of nurses, the options for dedicated and competent nurses were always plentiful. Although there is a need for nurses, the job growth in some areas of the country is still stagnant; this could be a problem for new nursing graduates. However, long-term projections show that even in economically strained parts of the country, nurses are more likely to find employment than other occupations.
