Phlebotomists Among Fastest Growing Jobs

Online, February 3, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics recently listed phlebotomists among the fastest growing occupations of all industry sectors. According to the Department of Labor (DoL), "employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 27 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations." That's 17 percent faster than other healthcare support occupations and more than twice as fast as the average for all job titles.

Phlebotomists draw blood samples for clinical laboratory testing, collect donor units for transfusion, and extract plasma and other blood constituents from patients in a specialized procedure known as pheresis.

"This is encouraging, but not surprising," says the Center for Phlebotomy Education's Executive Director, Dennis J. Ernst MT(ASCP) NCPT(NCCT). "Since physicians rely on lab tests for the vast majority of objective information on the health status of their patients, phlebotomists are indispensable to healthcare. They perform the most commonly conducted invasive medical procedure, and can't be automated."

The DoL agrees. "Blood analysis remains an essential function in medical laboratories and hospitals," according to the bureau's job outlook for the profession. "Demand for phlebotomists will remain high as doctors and other healthcare professionals require blood work for analysis and diagnoses."

The Bureau reports there were 100,380 phlebotomists employed in the U.S. in 2012. California leads all states with 10,070 employed phlebotomists. The average national wage paid to phlebotomists is $14.86. Forty percent of phlebotomists work in hospitals, 26% work in medical and diagnostic laboratories and 9% work in physician offices. Eighteen percent work in other ambulatory health care services.
The report states employment prospects are best for phlebotomists who receive certification from reputable organizations.

The Center for Phlebotomy Education serves as an educational resource to all healthcare professionals who perform, teach, and manage blood collection procedures. Its staff of subject-matter experts lecture internationally, contribute to scientific and trade publications, chair committees that develop standards for the industry, and develop educational materials for international distribution.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the Executive Director, contact the Center for Phlebotomy Education toll free at 866-657-9857 or by email at [email protected].