What is the job market for PAs?
In its “Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition” http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm#outlook , the Bureaus of labor Statistics projects a rise from 66,000 PAs in 2006 to a needed 83,000 by 2016. This is a projected 27% increase which falls within the Bureau’s highest category of needed growth in the ten year period. The Bureau describes the job outlook for PAs as, “Employment of physician assistants is expected to grow 27 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. Projected rapid job growth reflects the expansion of health care industries and an emphasis on cost containment, which results in increasing use of PAs by health care establishments. Physicians and institutions are expected to employ more PAs to provide primary care and to assist with medical and surgical procedures because PAs are cost-effective and productive members of the health care team. Physician assistants can relieve physicians of routine duties and procedures. Telemedicine—usi
