A Booming and Best Job: Occupational Therapy a Thriving Career
By Stephanie Yamkovenko
Many of us have heard the phrase “do what you love and the money will follow.” This is particularly true for occupational therapy practitioners. Not only does occupational therapy enable clients to live life to its fullest, but it is also a thriving profession—CNN Money recently named it a best job in America and a booming job with predicted growth, and Forbes cited it as a best-paying and fastest-growing job for women.
The power and recognition of occupational therapy are demonstrated by the fact that it continues to thrive despite the slowly recovering economy and high unemployment rates. With a projected 26% growth rate in the next 10 years, occupational therapy is outpacing most other professions.
“It’s so rewarding to represent a profession that is receiving its just recognition as a ‘booming’ and ‘best’ job—something that we’ve all known for years,” says AOTA President Florence Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA. “I think we’re turning the corner past the time when occupational therapy was the ‘best kept secret in health care.’”
CNN Money ranked occupational therapy number 9 as a booming job with big opportunities, and number 19 as a best job in America. Forbes ranked occupational therapy number 10 for best-paying jobs for women and number 14 for fastest-growing jobs for women.
At the halfway mark on the road to the profession’s 2017 Centennial Vision, Clark believes this news is evidence that the profession is making progress. “Without a doubt, we are on the Centennial Vision track to becoming a powerful and widely recognized profession by 2017,” says Clark.
Last year, the profession of occupational therapy also topped the lists of recession-proof jobs, least stressful jobs, and best careers. The great news about the booming profession may inspire some adults to switch careers and join occupational therapy, helping to create a diverse workforce, which is another component of the Centennial Vision.
AOTA member Alan Moniz recently embarked on a new career as an occupational therapy assistant after being laid off from a job in an industry where he had worked for 3 decades. He went back to school and participated in a job retraining program in 2007 and now is a part of a profession that he considers fulfilling. Read a CNN Money article about Moniz’s career change.
“Our profession fulfills so many vital societal needs,” says Clark. “Occupational therapy will not simply survive economic turbulence but will thrive. We really are as stable, necessary, and rewarding a career choice that you can find.”
From the beginning of Clark’s presidency, she has stressed the importance of putting occupational therapy in high definition.
“When I talk about putting occupational therapy in high-definition, I’m usually referring to the need for clarity, breadth, and precision when describing our profession,” says Clark. “But in these media stories there’s absolutely nothing ‘low-def’ or ‘fuzzy’ about occupational therapy. Features like these will only accelerate our profession’s recognition, power, and appreciation throughout society at large.”
Stephanie Yamkovenko is AOTA’s staff writer.
