When it comes time to think of career choices or career changes, nursing is an ever-present recommendation. It’s little wonder why: The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 15 percent increase in the need for registered nurses between now and 2026, with many attributing the increased need to the demand from the aging baby boomer generation. Plus, the bureau says that in May 2018, the median pay for the field was $71,730 — not bad, considering that the barriers for entry into the field are a bachelor’s degree and a whole LOT of work. Nurses are the people who handle the kind of nitty gritty patient care that would even have a lot of MDs gnashing their teeth. Given how front and center nurses are in helping us feel and get better, it’s little wonder the profession consistently polls as the most honest and ethical in the country.
In celebration of national nurses week, we decided to take a quick look at the state of the care giving profession in Metro Atlanta. As the series of maps below show, Georgia has a high demand for nurses compared to the country, and the need is highest in Metro Atlanta.
Above: Nationally, Georgia shows high demand for skilled nurses based on online job listings. Map and data from Labor Insight, Burning Glass Technologies.
Above: Statewide, the labor demand for nurses is highest in Metro Atlanta counties. Maps and data from Labor Insight, Burning Glass Technologies.
Above: When looking at metros nationwide, the job demand for nurses in the Atlanta area is higher than many other MSAs in the country. Data and maps from Labor Insight, Burning Glass Technologies.
How much can those entering the profession expect to make? The series of charts below examines the current state of wages in nursing and care-providing professions.
For a final celebratory and local look at the nursing profession, check out this recent special feature from the Atlanta Journal.