By Christine Whitmarsh, RN, BSN

In a tough economy and even tougher job market, the following should be music to physical therapists’ ears: “This job tops the list of jobs referred to by several job sites as “best shots at finding work.” The websites, including LinkUp, Indeed and Simply Hired, also point to the comparatively easy training requirements and lower turnovers than other jobs. Physical therapy has a dramatically lower unemployment rate than the national average. Current career stats have physical therapy jobs and traveling physical therapist jobs growing by a whopping 207% in the past two years, with an average annual salary reported to be $52,000. Job growth is forecast at 2006-2016 between 2006 and 2016.

The demand for physical therapists and physical therapy travel jobs is on the rise, partly because of the growing need for therapy and rehabilitation by aging baby boomers and partly due to the increased awareness of healthy habits by the rest of the population. Costly health insurance premiums and co-pays are also on the minds of the American health care consumers, especially as they make the connection between price tag and physician visit. Physical therapists can help solidify this connection in their clients’ minds, emphasizing healthier ways of functioning and avoiding injuries.

Physical therapists and travel physical therapists can provide relief to patients from all walks of life from wounded weekend warriors, to elderly clients suffering from chronic debilitating conditions, heart attacks and strokes to babies born with severe birth defects and in need of rehabilitation to improve their future. The profession is also growing, as new medical advances allow trauma survivors who once would have expired, to survive and require rehabilitation.

Sources: American Physical Therapy Association, Simply Hired.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.