Despite the struggling U.S. and world economy, there is one sector that is not slowing down. That is healthcare. While nearly 600,000 jobs were being lost, the healthcare system continued to hire at an incredible pace–one that is much higher than even the other top industries in the country. This could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

Jobs are still out there in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, labs, home healthcare companies, and many other facilities. No matter how bad our financial situation gets, we still need the help of doctors, nurses, and other professionals in the healthcare field, and that translates to stable, growing employment opportunities.

Healthcare and social services related to it have accounted for four out of every ten new jobs in the past several years, and this sector shows no sign of slowing down. That means that jobs in nursing and jobs in actuarial science for health organizations are both great choices for people who want a new career. Being an actuary in health may not be the first thing you think about when you consider a career change, but it could be the smartest choice you have ever made.

The U.S. Department of Labor is projecting the number of new healthcare jobs to increase by more than 30% between now and the year 2014. That is a lot more jobs than are likely to occur in other sectors—around five million. Careers in healthcare are in one of the strongest fields there is, no matter how bad the economy may seem.

It might seem hard to find positive news about the state of the job market these days, but healthcare is offering stability when even the electronics industry is cutting down on the number of employees in order to save money. That means you should take a look at this in-high-demand field to find out what your options are.

When you think of jobs in the healthcare industry, you probably think of stability and good pay. However, you may also think of stressful working conditions, middle-of-the-night calls, unusual scheduling and, long work weeks. That is true for some positions in healthcare, but not for all of them. There are many different types of professional healthcare positions that do not have these downsides. You could be in this stable, secure industry without having to work that sixty-hour week or deal with a high-stress situation. You will get the best of both worlds.

For instance, while doctors and surgeons are often up at all hours dealing with emergencies, dentists and chiropractors work a regular nine-to-five job with stable hours and a standard work week. While some work on weekends and in the evenings for emergency support or to accommodate patient schedules, work weeks rarely top forty hours, making these positions a great alternative to becoming a doctor.

Pharmacists are another area that most people do not think about when they are considering healthcare positions. However, pharmacy jobs are stable, in demand, and do not put a lot of stress on the people in them. Like chiropractors and dentists, the average pharmacist puts in forty hours regardless of whether they work at a private practice or a chain store.

For those who want a position that requires more schooling than nursing, but less than being a full-fledged doctor, a physician's assistant job may be a good choice. Most of these people work regular doctors' office hours, and even hospital rotations are easier than the ones worked by doctors. People in these positions also receive more benefits than people in many other healthcare positions.

Healthcare actuaries also work regular office hours using their mathematical and prediction skills to help insurance agencies and other organizations determine and minimize risk. If you have ever looked at your health insurance premium, it was determined by an actuary based on how likely you are to ever file a claim. This kind of position takes schooling and some real mathematical skill, but it is a great job for anyone who is suited to it.

Of course, there are also nursing jobs. They may be less glamorous than some of these other positions, but they are always in demand and require less schooling. Our healthcare system would not work without nurses and nursing assistants. If you have ever been ill or in the hospital, you are aware of how much nurses do for us. There are plenty of nursing jobs opening up everywhere, since even in a bad economy we continue to need healthcare.

The healthcare sector is a great place to look for your next job or to start a new career. Even under the worst economic conditions, everyone needs healthcare. That means that we will always need doctors, nurses, assistants, and specialty practitioners. These extremely stable jobs are in demand and the field keeps growing, so now is the time to check out all your options and see if you are right for one of these positions. It could open up an entirely new set of opportunities, even in an uncertain economic climate. Healthcare jobs really are the way to go.

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