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November 3, 2017 – Arlington, Va. – This month the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 6.5 million Americans are unemployed, while at the same time 6.1 million jobs remain unfilled in America. This crisis exists because employers demand “job-ready” employees and prospective employees are simply not able to bridge the skills gap without appropriate career education and training. This shortage of skills will become evident in many key professions essential to our nation’s economic and personal health. One of those professions is diagnostic medical sonography. Though a small profession, it is growing at a much faster than average rate: while the average growth for most occupations will be 7% over the next decade, the demand for medical sonographers will grow by 23% - over 3 times the national average. Diagnostic medical sonographers specialize in creating images of the body’s organ and tissues. They operate special imaging equipment to create images or conduct tests, and the results help physicians assess and diagnose medical conditions. The high growth coupled with a median salary of $69,650 in May 2016 makes this an excellent time for trained professionals to enter this expanding field.
Career colleges and universities are integral to equipping students with the credentials they need for a successful career as a diagnostic medical sonographer. CECU research from the U.S. Department of Education’s IPEDS database shows the impact postsecondary career education colleges and universities have in providing trained diagnostic medical sonographers. From 2011-2015, the sector graduated 12,598 students with the academic credentials needed for a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer. In 2016, nearly half of the awards in this field came from private sector career colleges and universities. “Our Diagnostic Medical Sonography program is a great opportunity for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in any field to enter the medical field as a valued and respected member of the team. We see students from all walks of life who find the growth opportunities and flexibility available in the healthcare field exciting,” said Christopher Coutts, president of American Institute. “Sonographers enjoy a wide range of opportunities to register in different specialties with ARDMS, such as abdominal, OB/GYN, and vascular, to name a few, and we encourage our students to register as soon as possible to demonstrate their career passion(s) to their employers. Graduates tell me that they love that their work as a sonographer is varied, with different patients and diagnoses, and that they aren’t stuck behind a desk all day. We love seeing our DMS graduates at work in our communities in clinics, hospitals, physician offices, and more, as they contribute to providing accurate and essential healthcare to their patients, including our own family and friends.” “CECU schools are of critical importance to ensuring that the demand over the next decade is met and that healthcare facilities are properly supported with the staff they need for patients,” said Steve Gunderson , president & CEO of CECU. “A huge percentage of degrees in diagnostic sonography come from career colleges and universities, and we must ensure that they can continue to train the skilled workers our nation needs to care for our sick and elderly population.” 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. 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. Comments are closed.
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