News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel
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Once Again, Medical Technologists (MT) and Clinical Laboratory Scientists (CLS) Are Top Careers

Medical technologists (MT) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) were declared among “The 50 Best Careers of 2011” by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) in its annual survey of high-demand careers. Editors at the respected news magazine declared “clinical lab technicians and technologists” to be the “unsung heroes of the healthcare industry.”

Medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists had a prominent place in the USNWR’s special issue featuring “The 50 Best Careers of 2011,” published on Dec 6. 2010. MTs, pathologists, and clinical laboratory managers will see the MT and CLS career opportunity profiled under “Best Careers 2011: Lab Technician.”

Medical technologists (MT) and clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) can earn more than $55,000 according to U.S. News & World Report.

High Demand for Clinical Lab MTs, CLSs, MLTs, and Other Professionals

Each year, USNWR publishes its analysis of the “50 Best Careers.” In each of the past two years, Lab Technician has made the list. According to the editors of U.S. News & World Report:

  • “Job growth is expected to be faster than average, with the number of clinical lab workers rising about 16% between 2008 and 2018, adding about 25,000 jobs, according to the Labor Department.
  • “Median annual take-home pay was $36,030 in 2009. For those at the top of the pay bracket, salaries can be more than $55,210.
  • “[Stress level] is pretty low, though hefty patient loads and keeping up with technological and regulatory issues can require some serious multi-tasking. You’ll be working in a clean, well-lighted lab most of the time.
  • “The lower-cost education is a highlight of this occupation. For entry-level work, you’ll likely need to have an associate’s degree or complete a certificate program. It’s possible to learn some of your skills on the job.”

Predict Strong Job Growth and Above Average Income for MTs

“To come up with this year’s list,” the report stated, “U.S. News considered job-growth projections from the Labor Department, estimates for 2008 to 2018, the most recent data available. We narrowed it down to occupations that are expected to add jobs at an above-average rate over the next decade, as well as those that provide an above-average median income.

“We also considered, where possible, data on job satisfaction, turnover, and impending retirements, which crank up openings in jobs that may have only slightly above-average employment growth,” the report continued.

This continues to validate the belief that demand for all sorts of technical healthcare positions will only increase, not only here in America, but in Canada and around the world. Healthcare systems on four continents have reported serious shortages in skilled technical employees in all aspects of healthcare.

Dark Daily covered this topic in January with “Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Are Among Top Growth Jobs for Next Decade” after Lab Technician made it onto the U.S. News top careers list for 2010.

With its selection of MTs and CLSs as “Best Careers for 2011,” U.S. News & World Report is signaling that demand for proficient clinical laboratory professionals will remain strong in coming years. That means that hiring practices at clinical laboratories must evolve as well.

On that point, Dark Daily recently reported on why clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups should be expanding their medical technologist recruitment programs to include the use of the Web and social media. These powerful new recruiting approaches were described during The Dark Report’s November audio conference titled “How to Solve Your Lab’s Med-Tech Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Problems Now.”

By selecting Laboratory Technologist as a “50 Best Careers for 2011,” U.S. News & World Report is affirming the ever-growing shortage of medical technologists and clinical laboratory scientists. Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers may want to incorporate this U.S. News & World Report story into the recruiting materials they use when hiring new laboratory staff.

Related Information:

Best Careers 2011: Healthcare Jobs

Best Careers 2011: Laboratory Technician

The 50 Best Careers of 2011

The 50 Best Careers of 2010

How to Solve Your Lab’s Med-Tech Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Problems Now

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Are Among Top Growth Jobs for Next Decade

Critical shortage of lab technicians

ASCP Works to Fight Lab Staff Shortage

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