Employment opportunities for physical therapists remain robust.
The need for PT's is expected to remain strong into the foreseeable
future as the US population ages, chronic conditions increase, and
the demand for physical therapy services grows. The Bureau of Labor
suggests that with changes in restrictions on reimbursement from
third party payers, there will be an increase in demand for
service. Improvements in medical technology will also increase the
manner in which PT's are able to provide service to individuals
with movement dysfunction. The Bureau of Labor Statistics
(2016-2017 report) forecasts a 34% growth in employment of physical
therapists from 2014-2024, much faster than the average for all
occupations (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm).
The average annual starting salary for a physical therapist ranges
from $55,000 - 75,000.
Current workforce information reported by the American Physical
Therapy Association (APTA) on job vacancy noted a 10% vacancy rate
in acute care/hospital facilities, 11.2% in private practice
settings, and 12.1% in skilled nursing facilities (http://www.apta.org; accessed
06-08-2017). The APTA also notes a 1.1% unemployment rate among
physical therapists. Physical therapists rank
16th in a list of the 100 "Best Jobs in America" as
reported by US News and World Report.
Graduates of the DPT program in Erie who choose to work in the
field of physical therapy enjoy a 100% employment rate.