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Posted April 1, 2004

The U.S. population is aging fast
Projected increase in U.S. population, 2000-2020:
Age 65 and over 54%
Age 85 and over 57%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2001

Health care jobs are growing twice as fast as non-health care jobs
Projected growth, 2000-2010:
Health occupations 29%
Non-health occupations 14%

Projected number of new health care workers needed, 2000-2010:
Replacement jobs 2.2 million
New jobs 3.1 million
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2001

Demand for nurses will likely vastly outstrip supply by 2020
Projected nursing shortage, 2000-2020:

Year	Nurse demand	Nurse supply	Shortfall	% shortfall
2000	2.0 million	1.89 million	-110,000	-6%
2010	2.3 million	2.07 million	-275,000	-12%
2020	2.8 million	2.00 million	-808,000	-29%

Source: Bureau of Health Professions, 2002

> Continue to Health Care Workforce Shortage Links