Newest healthcare data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau show continued growth in the size, scope and cost of the U.S. healthcare market. Here is a compilation of some the most recent statistical findings from 2016 and 2017 BLS surveys and Census Bureau projections..

Respiratory therapists average median income is about $58,000 per year. The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners was $62,610 in May of 2015. That’s higher than the median annual wage for all workers, which was $36,200.

EMPLOYMENT

Healthcare related occupations have employment of 12 million people or about 9% of the total national employment.

Home healthcare aides as an occupation are projected to grow as the fastest occupation in the United States through 2024 — 35%.

Changes in the population growth participation rates over the next several decades will significantly impact the labor force, including healthcare. Even though the size of the U.S. population will grow overall, its annual growth rate is expected to slow down significantly in the coming decades due to a variety of factors, such as the aging of baby boomers, declining fertility rates, and a lessening of growth in immigration. The rate of population growth by 2060 may be only about 20% of today’s growth rate.

BENEFITS

The participation rate for employee sponsored retirement benefits, which include defined benefits and contribution plans, was 49% for private industry and 81% for state and local government workers.

As of September 2016, employer costs for private industry has averaged $32.27 per hour worked. For state and local government that average was $45.93 per hour worked.

HEALTHCARE COSTS

Total healthcare spending in the U.S. made up more than 17% of our gross domestic product. That adds up to more than three trillion dollars per year spent on healthcare.

Since 1996, the December to December price increase outside of healthcare has averaged 2.2%; while the price increase for medical care has averaged 3.6%.