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Bureau Of Labor
Statistics Predicts Epidemiology Jobs Will Increase Significantly
Because Of Changes Brought About By The COVID-19 Pandemic
A “boom”
for epidemiologists and other health science jobs is how the New York
Times characterized the latest employment projections from the Bureau
of Labor Statistics.
In a
February 2021 report on employment projections in a pandemic
environment, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that
employment of epidemiologists will grow by about 31% between now and
2029. This projection did not change regardless of whether the future
scenario was one of moderate or major impact from the changes in
consumer spending behavior or workplace structural changes caused by
the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the BLS had projected only a 4.6%
growth in employment for epidemiologists. The percentage increase in
jobs for epidemiologists is the largest increase among nearly 800
detailed occupations, according to the Times report.
Growth
The
projected growth in jobs for epidemiologists is part of an overall
increased need for future pandemic preparation and medical research.
At present, the BLS categorizes epidemiologists as a relatively
“small” occupation with an estimated employment level of 8,000 as of
2019. Given the anticipated 31% increased growth, the BLS says this
will add an estimated 2,500 new jobs over the next decade.
Other
Medical
Other
medical research occupations such as medical scientists who are not
epidemiologists, biochemists, biophysicists, and biological
technicians are also expected to grow. Of these, non-epidemiologist
medical scientists are expected to add the most new jobs by increasing
from an estimated 8,400 in the baseline scenario before the pandemic
to 40,000 new jobs by 2029.
According to the BLS, these numbers could change later in 2021
following a more thorough evaluation of the impact of the pandemic on
different industries and occupations.
Type
of Work Changes
Among the changes
impacting these projections are increased telework with its associated
increased demand for information technology and computer related
occupations and public demand for better prevention, containment, and
treatment of infectious diseases. This latter demand will fuel
increased scientific and medical research funding.
Losses
Among the occupations
expected to experience employment losses are cashiers, receptionists,
information clerks, reservation and ticket agents, hotel, motel,
resort desk clerks, waiters and waitresses, hosts and hostesses,
bartenders, and cooks at institutions and cafeterias. In a strong
impact scenario, entertainers are likely to suffer because of reduced
attendance at concerts and other entertainment offerings.
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