When considering a career change, one of the most important elements to research is its future outlook. While career stability is never a guarantee, there are several markers that determine future availability. If you’re interested in starting a career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), you may be surprised to learn about the projected CNA job outlook.
The following predictions made by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics can help guide you to the perfect career based on stability and growth metrics. It should be noted that while these figures are considered standard throughout the country, your state and city may feature higher or lower projections. To learn about your local nursing industry, contact your State Board of Nursing and ask to see CNA job outlook/ or growth data.
Certified Nursing Assistant – Industry Growth Projections
According to data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the entire nursing assistant industry is projected to increase the number of jobs by 11% by 2026. It’s important to note that this figure includes all positions belonging to the overarching “nurse assistant” industry.
The reason for this is primarily due to the aging Baby Boomer population. After World War 2, there was a surge in population as servicemen return from the war. This spike in births resulted in the flux of many industries during the later part of the 20th Century. And, as it happens, will continue to have the same effect well into the 21st Century.
The job outlook for CNA nurses looks very stable and promising in the future.
Projected Job Growth by CNA Profession
As with almost any other industry, there are multiple job titles categorized underneath the Nursing Assistant industry. These positions are relatively similar, but are often performed in specific workplace environments. While the industry as a whole is projected to grow by 11 percent, let’s investigate position-specific growth projections.
- Nursing/Psychiatric/Home Health Aides – These positions are expected to grow by 24% between now and the year 2026. This is primarily due to the aging population, which will require greater care than younger patients.
- Nursing Assistants – This position includes the standard Certified Nursing Assistant title, and is expected to grow by the industry standard 11% during the aforementioned period.
- Orderlies – This position is slightly different from a CNA, but is also expected to experience up to an 8% growth in jobs.
CNA Job Outlook at the State Level
While demand for Certified Nursing Assistants is universally high throughout the United States, there are several states that currently hold greater numbers of opportunities. The following states feature the highest number of CNA jobs in the country:
- California – Features almost 100,000 jobs and features an average hourly wage of $16.13.
- New York – With roughly 95,000 CNA jobs, New York State also features the highest average hourly wage of $16.87.
- Florida – Known for its retired community, this state employs over 92,000 CNAs with an average hourly wage of $12.47.
- Texas – Employing roughly 89,000 CNAs, Texas offers an hourly wage of $12.69.
- Pennsylvania – Holding an hourly wage of $14.43, this state employs over 75,000 CNAs.
