Shortage of Pharmacy Technicians

​September 1, 2017 – Arlington, Va. – The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 7.1 million Americans were unemployed in June, while at the same time 6.2 million jobs remain unfilled in America. This jobs gap exists because millions of prospective employees lack appropriate career education, training and skills.  

What if you couldn’t find someone to issue your prescription?  The demand for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow by 9% over the next decade, requiring no less than 34,700 new professionals during this time, according to BLS. 

Today over half of pharmacy technician credentials come from postsecondary career colleges and universities. In 2016, postsecondary career colleges awarded 6,826 credentials in this field out of 13,087 awarded in all of higher education, or 52% of all pharmacy technician awards. Between 2011-2015, the sector awarded 69,579 awards. Our institutions will be integral to meeting the rising demand for pharmacy technicians in the next 10 years, and we are ready to meet the challenge. 

“Pharmacy technicians bring important skills and support to their roles in various healthcare settings,” said Janis Paulson, CEO of Unitek College. “Programs provided by institutions in our sector are essential to providing both theoretical knowledge and applied skills that prepare graduates to be successful in this field.” 

Pharmacy technicians perform important roles with both patients and other healthcare professionals. They work directly with patients, organize inventory,  process payment and insurance information, and mix medications under the supervision of a pharmacist. Advances in pharmaceutical research coupled with a higher demand for prescription medication due to factors like increasing numbers of cases of chronic disease will lead to higher demand for pharmacy technicians. In addition, as pharmacies begin offering a greater number of services such as flu shots and vaccines, pharmacy technicians will be needed to support this larger role.

“Without our schools, thousands of students would not be able to be trained adequately for careers as pharmacy technicians,” said Steve Gunderson, president & CEO of CECU. “It is important for both those students and our nation’s economy that they have access to the programs that will help them enter this field and fill the rising job demand.”
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About Shortage of Skills
Each month CECU will profile America’s “Shortage of Skills” (SOS) in one key industry. We will examine industries that are critical to America’s economic advancement and explain how a well-educated and well-trained workforce can address these issues. See previous SOS releases here. 
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About Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU)  
Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU) is a membership organization of accredited institutions of higher education that provide postsecondary education with a career focus. CECU’s work supports thousands of campuses that educate millions of students.