Radiology technician Job Outlook
Job opportunities are expected to be favorable. Some employers report
difficulty hiring sufficient numbers of Radiology technicians . Imbalances between the demand for, and supply of, qualified
workers should spur efforts to attract and retain qualified Radiology technicians . As an example of such efforts, employers
may provide more flexible training programs or improve compensation
and working conditions.
Radiology technicians who also are experienced in more complex
diagnostic imaging procedures, such as CT or MRI, will have better
employment opportunities, as employers seek to control costs by using
multiskilled employees.
Employment of Radiology technicians is expected
to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, as
the population grows and ages, increasing the demand for diagnostic
imaging. Although healthcare providers are enthusiastic about the clinical
benefits of new technologies, the extent to which they are adopted
depends largely on cost and reimbursement considerations. For example,
digital imaging technology can improve quality and efficiency, but
remains expensive. Some promising new technologies may not come into
widespread use because they are too expensive and third-party payers
may not be willing to pay for their use.
Hospitals will remain the principal employer of Radiology technicians
. However, a greater number of new jobs will be found
in offices of physicians and diagnostic imaging centers. Health facilities
such as these are expected to grow rapidly through 2012, due to the
strong shift toward outpatient care, encouraged by third-party payers
and made possible by technological advances that permit more procedures
to be performed outside the hospital. Some job openings also will arise
from the need to replace technologists who leave the
occupation.
Next
Topic: Radiology technician Salary