Rehab therapy industry offers new opportunities for those looking for recession-proof jobs

Professionals in the rehabilitation therapy industry continue to experience low rates of unemployment and high demand, particularly in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.

The Allied Health Research Institute, an academic and industry partnership committed to increasing the number of qualified health professionals, projects a shortage of 1.5 to 3 million workers by the year 2020. Allied health workers include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists and therapy assistants.

Dan Hirschfield, an AHRI board member, says this shortage translates to an advantage for those looking for recession-proof jobs.

"In the current economy, job security is a motivating factor for many professionals looking to enter the work force or change fields," Hirschfield says. "Employers are in tight competition for the same clinicians. I don't expect this to change in the foreseeable future."

Rehab therapists earn an average salary of $62,000 to $74,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are required to earn a master's degree in order to practice, in addition to maintaining a professional license and other necessary credentials.

Therapy assistants, only requiring an associate's degree and a professional license, earn average salaries of $42,000.

The shortage of rehab therapists has prompted many companies to offer educational benefits and student scholarships to attract new clinicians.

"In addition to job security, the personal rewards a therapy professional receives from helping someone gain lost abilities is virtually priceless," Hirschfield says.

Courtesy Tribune Media Services